Risk groups during the COVID-19 epidemic: focus on the kidneys and reproductive system

Sharvadze G.G.; Mamedov M.N.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/profmed20202307185

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Abstract:

COVID-19 is caused by severe acute coronavirus 2 respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), which penetrates the cell by binding to the receptor angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) and priming cell protease, serine transmembrane proteinase (TMPRSS). Theoretically, organs with high ACE2 or TMPRSS2 expression are more vulnerable to the infection. Given that ACE2 is expressed in many organs and systems of the human body, and based on clinical experience of infected patients, the risk group of patients with concomitant chronic non-infective diseases has been identified: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, malignancies, lung diseases, chronic kidney diseases, obesity. Currently, the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and urinary systems are the main potential target organs for COVID-19 infection. Patients with a severe course of the disease are dominated by symptoms associated with pneumonia. There is evidence that COVID-19 infection is also affecting the urogenital system. Primary sequencing data from scRNA-seq and the results of immunohistochemistry showed that there is a high expression of ACE2 in the testicles, renal tubules, but so far there is not enough reliable data on ACE2 expression in the female reproductive system. The potential risk of COVID-19 effect on fertility should be given more attention.

Keywords:

coronavirus

reproductive system

chronic kidney disease

ACE2 expression

Authors:

Sharvadze G.G.

National Medical Research Centre for Therapy and Preventive Medicine

Mamedov M.N.

National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine

Received:

01.06.2020

Accepted:

01.10.2020

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References:

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