losartan-potassium and Pneumonia--Viral

A very recent epidemiological study provides preliminary evidence that living in habitats located at 2500 m above sea level (masl) might protect from the development of severe respiratory symptoms following infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. This epidemiological finding raises the question of whether physiological mechanisms underlying the acclimatization to high altitude identifies therapeutic targets for the effective treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome pivotal to the reduction of global mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article compares the symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) with those of SARS-CoV-2 infection and explores overlapping patho-physiological mechanisms of the respiratory system including impaired oxygen transport, pulmonary gas exchange and brainstem circuits controlling respiration. In this context, we also discuss the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on oxygen sensing in the carotid body. Finally, since erythropoietin (EPO) is an effective prophylactic treatment for AMS, this article reviews the potential benefits of implementing FDA-approved erythropoietin-based (EPO) drug therapies to counteract a variety of acute respiratory and non-respiratory (e.g. excessive inflammation of vascular beds) symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Topics: Acclimatization; Altitude Sickness; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; Erythropoietin; Humans; Hypoxia; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral

In light of the present therapeutic situation in COVID-19, any measure to improve course and outcome of seriously affected individuals is of utmost importance. We recap here evidence that supports the use of human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) for ameliorating course and outcome of seriously ill COVID-19 patients. This brief expert review grounds on available subject-relevant literature searched until May 14, 2020, including Medline, Google Scholar, and preprint servers. We delineate in brief sections, each introduced by a summary of respective COVID-19 references, how EPO may target a number of the gravest sequelae of these patients. EPO is expected to: (1) improve respiration at several levels including lung, brainstem, spinal cord and respiratory muscles; (2) counteract overshooting inflammation caused by cytokine storm/ inflammasome; (3) act neuroprotective and neuroregenerative in brain and peripheral nervous system. Based on this accumulating experimental and clinical evidence, we finally provide the research design for a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial including severely affected patients, which is planned to start shortly.

Topics: Betacoronavirus; Brain Stem; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; Cytokine Release Syndrome; Double-Blind Method; Erythropoietin; Humans; Lung; Neuroprotective Agents; Pandemics; Phrenic Nerve; Pneumonia, Viral; Proof of Concept Study; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recombinant Proteins; Respiratory Muscles; Respiratory System Agents; SARS-CoV-2; Severity of Illness Index; Spinal Cord

Topics: Anemia; Betacoronavirus; Biomarkers; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Erythropoietin; Ferritins; Hemoglobins; Hepcidins; Humans; Iron; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Receptors, Transferrin; SARS-CoV-2; Transferrin

An 80-year-old man with multiple comorbidities presented to the emergency department with tachypnea, tachycardia, fever, and critically low O

Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Anemia; Antiviral Agents; Betacoronavirus; Biomarkers; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Convalescence; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Critical Illness; Erythropoietin; Fever; Humans; Iran; Male; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Tachycardia; Tachypnea; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Anemia; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; Erythropoiesis; Erythropoietin; Hematinics; Humans; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; Erythropoiesis; Erythropoietin; Humans; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Renal Dialysis; SARS-CoV-2

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hypoxia-inducible hormone best known for its role in erythropoiesis. However, EPO also has anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective characteristics in multiple organs as summarised in this review. In the brain, EPO is upregulated by hypoxia, regulates ventilation and plays a key role in neuroprotection and neuroplasticity. Systemically administered EPO crosses the blood-brain-barrier, enhances neuroplasticity and improves cognitive functions in several disorders of the brain. Given this evidence, a trial is being planned to investigate whether EPO can improve the physiologic and neurologic outcome of COVID-19.

Topics: Betacoronavirus; Brain; Brain Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Erythropoietin; Humans; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; SARS-CoV-2