Cardiovascular Tropism and Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 14; no. 6; p. 1137
• Main Authors: Dmytrenko, Oleksandr, Lavine, Kory J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 25.05.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: cardiomyocyte; Cardiovascular system; Complications; complications (disease); Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 infection; Epidemiology; Immunization; Inflammation; Mortality; myocarditis; pandemic; pathogenesis; pathophysiology; pericyte; post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection; Review; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Tropism; Viral infections
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v14061137

The extrapulmonary manifestation of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), became apparent early in the ongoing pandemic. It is now recognized that cells of the cardiovascular system are targets of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated disease pathogenesis. While some details are emerging, much remains to be understood pertaining to the mechanistic basis by which SARS-CoV-2 contributes to acute and chronic manifestations of COVID-19. This knowledge has the potential to improve clinical management for the growing populations of patients impacted by COVID-19. Here, we review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of cardiovascular sequelae of COVID-19 and outline proposed disease mechanisms, including direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of major cardiovascular cell types and pathogenic effects of non-infectious viral particles and elicited inflammatory mediators. Finally, we identify the major outstanding questions in cardiovascular COVID-19 research.