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Case Report: Changes of Vascular Reactivity and Arterial Stiffness in a Patient With Covid-19 Infection
Philipp Jud1, Harald H Kessler2, Marianne Brodmann1
1Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Insights
This study shows that even young, healthy individuals may experience impaired endothelial function after Covid-19 infection. Vascular reactivity, specifically flow-mediated dilation, remained reduced six weeks post-infection, suggesting a lasting impact.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) may increase cardiovascular complication risk.
- Mechanisms behind these complications, including endothelial cell damage, are not fully understood.
- Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor in cardiovascular disease development.
Observation:
- A 24-year-old woman with Covid-19 underwent vascular assessments.
- Initial measurements showed significantly reduced flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and impaired nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD).
- Arterial stiffness parameters like pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (Aix) were initially normal.
Findings:
- Persistent reduction in FMD (0.0%) was observed six weeks after Covid-19 infection.
- While NMD, PWV, and Aix showed improvement, FMD remained critically low.
- This indicates a potential specific impact on endothelial function beyond generalized arterial stiffness.
Implications:
- Covid-19 infection can negatively affect endothelial function, even in young, otherwise healthy individuals.
- Persistent endothelial dysfunction post-Covid-19 warrants further investigation.
- This case highlights the need to consider vascular health in Covid-19 survivors.
Abstract:
Covid-19 infection may be associated with a higher incidence developing cardiovascular complications, however, the underlying mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular complications are largely unknown, while endothelial cell damage may be present. We want to report a 24-year-old woman with Covid-19 infection who had undergone measurements of vascular reactivity and arterial stiffness, including flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index and carotid intima-media-thickness (cIMT) at the time when Covid-19 was diagnosed. Reduced FMD of 0.0% and NMD of 15.5% were observed, while PWV (5.9 m/s), Aix (27%) and cIMT with 0.4 mm of both common carotid arteries were unremarkable. Repeated measurements of FMD, NMD, PWV, Aix, and cIMT 6 weeks after Covid-19 infection revealed persistently reduced FMD (0.0%), while NMD (17.24%), PWV (5.6 m/s) and augmentation index (13%) ameliorated. This case suggests potential impact of Covid-19 infection on endothelial function, also in young Covid-19 patients without any co-morbidity.
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