Can COVID-19 cause problems in the heart? Study provides insights
USA: A research team from the US observed increases in oxidative stress (harmful production of unstable molecules), signals of inflammation, and changes in calcium in heart tissue from patients who had COVID-19.
They also detected adverse changes to a protein called RyR2, responsible for regulating the heart’s calcium ion levels. Like all muscle cells, the heart muscle needs calcium ions to contract. The heart’s system for managing calcium ions is essential for the coordinated contractions of the atria and ventricles that pump blood throughout the body. When calcium in the heart becomes dysregulated, it can cause arrhythmias or heart failure.
COVID-19 infections can cause potentially life-threatening heart issues. Studies suggest that people with COVID-19 are 55% more likely to suffer a major adverse cardiovascular event, including heart attack, stroke and death, than those without COVID-19. They’re also more likely to have other heart issues, like arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation). Andrew Marks, a cardiologist and biophysics professor at Columbia University, and Steven Reiken, a research scientist in Marks’ lab, and colleagues have studied some of the changes in the heart that could lead to these problems. Reiken will present their work on Monday, February 20, at the 67th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting in San Diego, California.
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