Coronavirus & the Heart - Acute Heart Attack and Coronary Artery Disease - Pathophysiology

Abstract

Research supports a direct correlation between the coronavirus and acute myocardial injuries from the inflammation of the myocardium and its surrounding blood vessels. The pathophysiology of the coronavirus causes cardiac injuries through viral Vasculitis, which releases troponins I and T into the bloodstream to cause a plethora of cardiac problems including acute heart attack, heart failure, hypertension, and arrhythmia. Due to multi-organ failure from the body’s inflammatory response following exposure to the virus, the lungs, kidneys, and brain can become adversely impacted as well. While hydroxychloroquine should only be used to treat hospitalized patients, compassionate use of Remdesivir and Methotrexate can be used for non-hospitalized patients as well, if it is deemed effective and safe for public use through further testing and research.