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Updated: Nov 6, 2025

Monitoring Changes in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells upon Viral Infection Using Impedance-Based Real-Time Cell Analysis
Published on: May 5, 2023
From cellular function to global impact: the vascular perspective on COVID-19.
Shira A Strauss1, Chanhee Seo1, Marc Carrier1
1From the Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Ottawa at The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ont. (Strauss, Jetty); the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Strauss, Seo, Carrier, Jetty); the Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ont. (Carrier); and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ont. (Carrier).
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) impacts the vascular endothelium, causing inflammation and clots. This review examines COVID-19
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant impacts on the vascular system.
- SARS-CoV-2 infects vascular endothelium via ACE-2 receptors, triggering inflammation and thrombosis.
- Vascular complications include thromboembolic events in various vessels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cellular mechanisms and clinical manifestations of COVID-19's vascular effects.
- To discuss the impact of COVID-19 on surgical communities from a vascular viewpoint.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing data on COVID-19 and vascular health.
- Analysis of cellular, clinical, and population-level impacts.
- Examination of community and global consequences on surgical care.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 induces pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic responses in the vascular endothelium.
- Thromboembolic events are prevalent across multiple vascular beds.
- Delayed presentations and missed limb salvage opportunities have increased due to pandemic-related factors.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 poses a significant threat to vascular health, affecting individuals regardless of pre-existing risk factors.
- The pandemic has disrupted surgical care, leading to adverse outcomes in vascular emergencies.
- Understanding these vascular effects is crucial for managing COVID-19 patients and optimizing surgical resource allocation.
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