Influence of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors on plasma levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Concern has been raised that treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may increase the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which acts as the entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and lead to an increased risk of death from SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to address this concern by evaluating the in vivo relationship of treatment with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) with circulating plasma concentrations of ACE2 in a large cohort of patients with established cardiovascular disease (n = 1864) or cardiovascular risk factors (n = 2144) but without a history of heart failure.

Methods and results

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was measured in 4008 patients (median age 68, 33% women, 31% on ACE-inhibitors

SUBMITTER: Zimmermann T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8006721 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature