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COVID-19 for the Cardiologist: Basic Virology, Epidemiology, Cardiac Manifestations, and Potential Therapeutic
Deepak Atri1, Hasan K Siddiqi1, Joshua P Lang1
1Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Insights
This review covers the latest data on Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2. It details the virus
Area of Science:
- Virology and Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has become a global pandemic.
- The pandemic has severely impacted healthcare systems, economies, and led to significant mortality.
- Rapid scientific and clinical efforts are advancing the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on the mechanism of COVID-19 disease.
- To translate basic science understanding to clinical manifestations and potential therapeutics.
- To focus on cardiovascular complications and proposed mechanisms of injury.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature and data.
- Analysis of virology, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations.
- Exploration of multiorgan consequences and outcomes, with a focus on cardiovascular effects.
Main Results:
- Discussion of the basic virology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2.
- Detailed examination of clinical manifestations and multiorgan impact.
- Identification of potential mechanisms underlying cardiovascular complications.
Conclusions:
- The understanding of SARS-CoV-2 virology and disease mechanisms is crucial for clinical management.
- Cardiovascular complications are a significant concern with proposed injury pathways.
- Insights into disease mechanisms support the development of potential disease-modifying therapies.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has reached pandemic status. As it spreads across the world, it has overwhelmed health care systems, strangled the global economy, and led to a devastating loss of life. Widespread efforts from regulators, clinicians, and scientists are driving a rapid expansion of knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19. The authors review the most current data, with a focus on the basic understanding of the mechanism(s) of disease and translation to the clinical syndrome and potential therapeutics. The authors discuss the basic virology, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, multiorgan consequences, and outcomes. With a focus on cardiovascular complications, they propose several mechanisms of injury. The virology and potential mechanism of injury form the basis for a discussion of potential disease-modifying therapies.
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