The Interplay Between the Immune System, the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), and RAAS Inhibitors May Modulate the Outcome of COVID-19: A Systematic Review

J Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Aug;61(8):987-1000. doi: 10.1002/jcph.1852. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Abstract

Since the discovery of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), numerous research has been undertaken to delineate the various effects of the virus which manifests in many ways all over the body. The association between the SARS-CoV-2 invasion mechanism and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) receptors, created many debates about the possible consequences of using RAAS-modulating drugs including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) during the pandemic. Many clinical studies were conducted to assess the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients who use ACEi/ARBs following the arguments claiming to discontinue these drugs as a precautionary measure. Although several studies mainly analyzed the outcomes of the disease, this review aimed to compare specific blood markers in both groups of COVID-19 patients to gain better insight into the interaction of ACEi/ARBs with different body functions during the infection. Several databases were searched using a combination of keywords followed by screening and data extraction. Only 28 studies met our inclusion criteria, the majority of which showed no significant difference between the inflammation markers of COVID-19 patients who used or did not use ACEi/ARBs. Interestingly, 6 studies reported lower inflammatory markers in COVID-19 patients who used ACEi/ARBs, and 6 studies reported better outcomes among the same group. We therefore concluded that the use of ACEi/ARBs may not lead to worse prognosis of COVID-19 and may even play a protective role against the hyperinflammatory response associated with COVID-19.

Keywords: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; COVID-19; angiotensin receptor blockers; coronavirus; renin angiotensin aldosterone system.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • COVID-19* / immunology
  • COVID-19* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunity* / drug effects
  • Immunity* / physiology
  • Prognosis
  • Protective Factors
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / immunology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*

Substances

  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors