Background. The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, uses the angiotensin converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2), a physiological inhibitor of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), as a cellular receptor to infect cells. Since the RAAS can induce and modulate pro-inflammatory responses, it could play a key role in the pathophysiology of Covid-19. Thus, we aimed to determine the levels of plasma renin and aldosterone as indicators of RAAS activation in a series of consecutively admitted patients for Covid-19 in our clinic. Methods. Plasma renin and aldosterone levels were measured, among the miscellaneous investigations needed for Covid-19 management, early after admission in our clinic. Disease severity was assessed using a seven-category ordinal scale. Primary outcome of interest was the severity of patients’ clinical courses. Results. Forty-four patients were included. At inclusion, 12 patients had mild clinical status, 25 moderate clinical status and 7 severe clinical status. In univariate analyses, aldosterone and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at inclusion were significantly higher in patients with severe clinical course as compared to those with mild or moderate course ( p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). In multivariate analyses, only aldosterone and CRP levels remained positively associated with severity. We also observed a positive significant correlation between aldosterone and CRP levels among patients with an aldosterone level greater than 102.5 pmol/L. Conclusions. Both plasmatic aldosterone and CRP levels at inclusion are associated with the clinical course of Covid-19. Our findings may open new perspectives in the understanding of the possible role of RAAS for Covid-19 outcome.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Inflammation, severity, Renin angiotensin aldosterone system, Endocrine, 【초록키워드】 ACE2, pandemic, outcome, clinical status, Clinical course, pathophysiology, management, Patient, Mild, RAAS, plasma, correlation, inhibitor, Admission, moderate, physiological, C-reactive protein (CRP, Admitted Patient, Activation, enzyme, Perspective, pro-inflammatory responses, seven-category ordinal scale, multivariate analyses, CRP level, positive, new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, infect cells, cellular receptor, courses, Inclusion, Course, greater, responsible, remained, determine, modulate, induce, significantly higher, analyses, were measured,