Managing Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19 : A Randomized Controlled Trial at LAUMC

Managing Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19 : A Randomized Controlled Trial at the Lebanese American University Medical Center- Rizk Hospital

COVID-19 infection was shown to cause endothelial dysfunction .

At the level of the endothelium the pathophysiological mechanisms have been hypothesized and were divided into pro-coagulant, pro-inflammatory, anti-fibrinolytics, impaired barrier function, vasoconstrictor and pro-oxidant. So far, the pro-coagulant and pro-inflammatory pathways have been studied and as a result dexamethasone and anticoagulation became part of the standard therapies for the disease. However, so far, no RCT has been evaluated on targeting the vasoconstrictive and antioxidant pathways with an aim of revealing clinical benefit.

So, with this trial we intend to provide a regiment composed of several medications we hypothesize will act on several downstream pathways that would improve endothelial function primarily via the increase in NO production and release.

At the time of this proposal there has been no randomized trials evaluating or testing the use of cardiovascular drugs targeting endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. As previously noted there has been a call to study these drugs and their effect after a strong research regarding their theorized effectiveness. For evidence, there was a recently published meta-analysis evaluating the role of statins in COVID-19 with preliminary findings suggested a reduction in fatal or severe disease by 30% and discredited the suggestion of harm, that emphasized on the need of well-designed randomized controlled trial to confirm the role of statins in COVID-19 patients.

Our study would help determine the potential therapeutic effect of the endothelial protocol as adjunct to mainstream management. This study seeks to further our knowledge in treating COVID-19 to ultimately improve clinical outcomes and reduce complications.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the novel pathogen responsible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first discovered in Wuhan, China. Since its emergence in late December 2019, many pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed with multiple pathways that involve various organ systems . Although considered at its emergence as a respiratory infection with manifestations ranging from lower respiratory tract infection to pneumonia and advancing to acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS) in its final stages, recent evidence has highlighted how disseminated the virus can be affecting almost every organ be it the heart kidneys or blood vessels . Recent trends in research have focused on elucidating the cardiovascular dysfunction in COVID-19 patients Especially following studies showing that cardiovascular risk factors are among the most common presenting comorbidities and that cardiovascular complications of SARS-CoV-2 are among the most lethal . Initial research revealed that the virus makes use of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor to infiltrate host cells. With the ACE-2 receptor being a widely expressed receptor found in multiple cells lining the lung, heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and endothelial cells. Another prominent mechanism of infection is immune system dysregulation manifesting as a cytokine storm and inflammatory response over-activation.

Attempts at laying out a comprehensive or unifying pathogenesis of a COVID-19 infection have singled out endothelial dysfunction as a core pathway. The endothelium in summary is monolayer lining the arteries, veins and microvasculature. The endothelium hence plays a major role in homeostasis with interactive roles in blood pressure regulation, anti-coagulation and immune protection Moreover, it is thus relevant to note that the most common comorbidities that present with COVID-19 such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and old age are all underlined by pre-existing endothelial damage or dysfunction. As such, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress and their relation to the manifestation and progression of COVID-19 infections has gain significant traction in recent publications. This breakthrough exposes several causes of endothelial dysfunction which include direct lining attack, hypoxia, cytokine storm and suppressed endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with concomitant nitric oxide deficiency. Several studies have emphasized the role of NO signaling as a major regulator of vascular tone and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activity. For example, augmenting the production of NO and its bioavailability by nicorandil has been proposed as a potential treatment in patients with COVID 19. Nicorandil (a vasodilatory agent composed of N-[2-hydroxyethyl]-nicotinamide nitrate) used among patients with acute heart failure emergencies However, it has never been tested in patients with cardiovascular complications resulting from COVID 19 . Statins are cardioprotective in nature with recent reports showing that they can be beneficial in COVID-19 . An important mechanism via which Statins may improve endothelial function include increasing the production of NO and subsequent vasodilation effect, along with its established major anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties . Nebivolol, a cardio-selective beta blocker has also shown non-adrenergic vasodilating properties via the release of NO along with antioxidative and anti-atherosclerotic activities. Furthermore, eNOS overexpression leads to an increase in NO formation only when the BH4 synthase GTP-cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH-1) is alsoup-regulated. So, Folic Acid and L-arginine will be given to supplement our patients with BH4 . We hypothesize that its administration along with the other previously mentioned agents would improve endothelial function in patients suffering from COVID 19 via a cumulative increase in the bioavailability of Nitric Oxide (NO), and thus improving patients' outcomes

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults 18 years of age and above admitted for inpatient treatment of COVID-19 infection
• PCR-confirmed COVID-19 classified as mild, moderate or with severe disease as per the FDA.

With mild being a positive testing by standard RT-PCR assay or equivalent test and symptoms of mild illness with COVID-19 that could include fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, without shortness of breath or dyspnea. No clinical signs indicative of Moderate, Severe, or Critical Severity.

• Moderate defined as positive testing by standard RT-PCR assay or equivalent testing and symptoms of moderate illness which could include any symptom of mild illness or shortness of breath with exertion. Clinical signs suggestive of moderate illness with COVID-19, such as respiratory rate ≥ 20 breaths per minute, saturation of oxygen (SpO2) > 93% on room air at sea level, heart rate ≥ 90 beats per minute. No clinical signs indicative of Severe or Critical Illness Severity.
• Severe symptoms could include any symptom of moderate illness or shortness of breath at rest, or respiratory distress. Clinical signs indicative of severe systemic illness with COVID-19, such as respiratory 468 rate ≥ 30 per minute, heart rate ≥ 125 per minute, SpO2 ≤ 93% on room air at sea level or 469 PaO2/FiO2 < 300.
• No criteria for Critical Severity.
• Eligible for or taking statin

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participant in another RCT
• Myocarditis
• Patients who are already on beta-blockers

Patients already on Nicorandil.

. Patients taking PDE5 inhibitors or Riociguat

.Shock as defined by SBP<90 for more than 30 minutes not responding to IV fluids with evidence of end organ damage.

.Severe bradycardia (<50 bpm).

.Heart block greater than first-degree (except in patients with a functioning artificial pacemaker).

.Decompensated heart failure.

.Sick sinus syndrome (unless a permanent pacemaker is in place).

.Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C) or active liver disease.

.Unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases.

.Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

.Hypersensitivity to any of the medications.

• Can't take medications orally
• Patient refuses to participate