China / Science
Coronavirus attacks lining of blood vessels all over the body, Swiss study finds
“This virus does not only attack the lungs, it attacks the vessels everywhere,” said Frank Ruschitzka, an author of the paper from University Hospital Zurich.
He said the researchers had found that the deadly virus caused more than pneumonia.
“It enters the endothelium [layer of cells], which is the defence line of the blood vessels. So it brings your own defence down and causes problems in microcirculation,” said Ruschitzka, referring to circulation in the smallest of blood vessels.
It then reduces the blood flow to different parts of the body and eventually stops blood circulation, according to Ruschitzka, chairman of the heart centre and cardiology department at the university hospital in Switzerland.
“From what we do see clinically, patients have problems in all organs – in the heart, kidney, intestine, everywhere,” he said.
That also explained why smokers and people with pre-existing conditions who had a weakened endothelial function, or unhealthy blood vessels, were more vulnerable to the novel virus, he said.
Those underlying conditions included hypertension, or high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and established cardiovascular disease.
The study, published on Friday, found viral elements within endothelial cells, which line the inside of blood vessels, and inflammatory cells in Covid-19 patients.
While the results were based on analysis of three cases, Ruschitzka said autopsies on other Covid-19 patients had also found their blood vessel linings were “full of virus” and the function of vessels was impaired in all of their organs.
Read more here
www.scmp.com
Coronavirus attacks lining of blood vessels all over the body, Swiss study finds
- Researcher says virus enters ‘defence line’ and causes circulation problems, which can lead to multiple organ failure
- In addition to a vaccine, he suggests strengthening vascular health may be key
“This virus does not only attack the lungs, it attacks the vessels everywhere,” said Frank Ruschitzka, an author of the paper from University Hospital Zurich.
He said the researchers had found that the deadly virus caused more than pneumonia.
“It enters the endothelium [layer of cells], which is the defence line of the blood vessels. So it brings your own defence down and causes problems in microcirculation,” said Ruschitzka, referring to circulation in the smallest of blood vessels.
It then reduces the blood flow to different parts of the body and eventually stops blood circulation, according to Ruschitzka, chairman of the heart centre and cardiology department at the university hospital in Switzerland.
“From what we do see clinically, patients have problems in all organs – in the heart, kidney, intestine, everywhere,” he said.
That also explained why smokers and people with pre-existing conditions who had a weakened endothelial function, or unhealthy blood vessels, were more vulnerable to the novel virus, he said.
Those underlying conditions included hypertension, or high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and established cardiovascular disease.
The study, published on Friday, found viral elements within endothelial cells, which line the inside of blood vessels, and inflammatory cells in Covid-19 patients.
While the results were based on analysis of three cases, Ruschitzka said autopsies on other Covid-19 patients had also found their blood vessel linings were “full of virus” and the function of vessels was impaired in all of their organs.
Read more here
Coronavirus attacks blood vessels all over the body, Swiss study finds
Researcher says virus enters ‘defence line’ and causes circulation problems, which can lead to multiple organ failure.
www.scmp.com
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