Renal changes in COVID-19 infection

SUMMARY The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection started in China, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, in December 2019, and it was declared a pandemic in mid-March 2020, caused by a new coronavirus strain called SARS-CoV-2. The pathogenesis of kidney injury attributed to SARS- CoV-2 is not well defined yet. Observations show that the kidney damage caused by the new virus mutation is mainly tubular, with impairment of glomerular filtration and high levels of urea and creatinine. A study with seriously ill patients with COVID-19 showed that acute kidney injury was present in 29%. In the face of this evidence, based on recent studies, we can see the great renal contribution as an impact factor in the evolution of COVID-19, not just as a complicator of severity, but maybe part of the initial cascade of the process, requiring a deeper analysis using conventional biomarkers of kidney injury and more aggressive clinical intervention in patients at risk, in an attempt to reduce mortality.

RESUMO Infecção pelo COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) começou na China, cidade de Wuhan, província de Hubei, em dezembro de 2019, e foi declarada pandemia em meados de março de 2020, causada por uma nova cepa de coronavírus chamada SARS-CoV-2. A patogênese da lesão renal atribuída à SARS-CoV-2 ainda não está bem definida. Observações mostram que o dano renal causado pela nova mutação viral é principalmente tubular, com comprometimento da filtração glomerular e apresentação de altos níveis de uréia e creatinina. Estudo com pacientes gravemente enfermos com COVID-19 mostrou que a lesão renal aguda estava presente em 29%. Diante dessas evidências, com base em estudos recentes, podemos ver a grande contribuição renal como um fator de impacto na evolução do COVID-19, não apenas como um complicador da gravidade, mas talvez como parte da cascata inicial do processo, exigindo uma investigação de análise mais profunda usando biomarcadores convencionais de lesão renal e intervenção clínica mais agressiva em pacientes em risco, na tentativa de reduzir a mortalidade.

Mecanismos fisiopatogénicos involucrados en el daño cardiovascular en pacientes portadores de la COVID-19 / Physical mechanisms involved in cardiovascular damage of COVID-19 carriers

RESUMEN Introducción: la COVID-19 es una enfermedad nueva con repercusión directa sobre el sistema cardiovascular. Objetivo: describir los mecanismos fisiopatogénicos involucrados en el daño cardiovascular en pacientes portadores de COVID-19. Métodos: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica, mediante artículos recuperados en PubMed, SciELO, Ebsco y ClinicalKey. Se emplearon 27 referencias. Desarrollo: diferentes mecanismos fisiopatológicos se asocian al daño cardiovascular en pacientes con COVID-19, entre ellos la injuria miocárdica directa, invasión viral de los cardiomiocitos, alteración del índice suministro-demanda del miocardio, ruptura de la placa de ateroma y trombosis coronaria, inflamación sistémica, desequilibrios hidroelectrolíticos. Conclusiones: determinar los mecanismos involucrados en el daño cardiovascular es un pilar fundamental como estrategia preventiva y de tamizaje en estos pacientes. La respuesta inflamatoria, los cambios hemodinámicos secundarios al proceso viral, así como la hipoxemia, constituyen mecanismos de repercusión negativa sobre la salud cardiovascular, llevando al desarrollo de lesión cardiaca aguda.

ABSTRACT Introduction: COVID-19 is a new disease which provokes damage to human health, with direct impact on the cardiovascular system. Objective: to describe the pathophysiogenic mechanisms involved in the cardiovascular damage in COVID-19 patients. Method: a literature review was carried out, through articles retrieved in PubMed, SciELO, EBSCO and ClinicalKey, using 27 references. Development: different pathophysiogenic mechanisms are associated with cardiovascular damage in COVID-19 patients; among them direct myocardial injury, viral invasion of cardiomyocytes, alteration of myocardial supply-demand index, atheroma-plaque rupture and coronary thrombosis, systemic inflammation and electrolyte imbalances. Conclusions: determining the mechanisms involved in cardiovascular damage is a fundamental pillar as a preventive and screening strategy in COVID-19 patients. Inflammatory response, secondary hemodynamic changes to the viral process, as well as hypoxemia, are mechanisms of negative impact on cardiovascular health, leading to the development of acute cardiac injury.