Effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the cardiovascular system: More issues to be addressed

Cardiovascular injury recognized as the most frequent comorbidities among SARS-CoV-2-affected patients has been increasingly emphasized. Several studies provide the evidences that changes in serum myocardial enzyme and biomarker levels such as creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptides, and troponins levels indicate myocardial injury and disease progression. A recent review systematically explained the features of cardiovascular diseases and recommendations on the use of renin–angiotensin system blockers in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (1). However, additional issues will be mentioned in this short study. Mechanisms of cardiovascular injury among novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) patients have not been fully revealed. The potential mechanisms were explained as the deterioration of existing cardiovascular diseases, oxidative stress (free radical damage), and immune-mediated cardiac injury (myocarditis) (1).