tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Ann Med
. 2024 Dec;56(1):2390166.
doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2390166. Epub 2024 Aug 17. Statins for the prevention of cardiovascular events associated with avian influenza: the COVID-19 pandemic as a reference
Alpo Vuorio[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Bruce Budowle[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Frederick Raal[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Petri T Kovanen[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
There is growing concern that the severe respiratory disease in birds (avian influenza or 'bird flu') caused by the H5N1 influenza virus, might potentially spread more widely to humans and cause a pandemic. Here we discuss clinical issues related to human infections by the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype of the avian influenza A virus and make a clinical comparison with recent information obtained from studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Firstly, we consider the potential increase in cardiovascular events in humans infected with the H5N1 virus. Like SARS-CoV-2 infection, H5N1 infection may result in endothelial dysfunction and the associated procoagulant and prothrombotic state, and via this mechanism, the infection can potentially increase cardiovascular morbidity, especially in vulnerable individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Secondly, we discuss the potential beneficial role of statin use, both in the prophylaxis and the treatment of individuals with influenza A(H5N1), as was found favorable for the treatment of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords: Avian influenza; COVID-19; H5N1 influenza virus; cardiovascular; endothelial dysfunction; pandemic; statins.
. 2024 Dec;56(1):2390166.
doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2390166. Epub 2024 Aug 17. Statins for the prevention of cardiovascular events associated with avian influenza: the COVID-19 pandemic as a reference
Alpo Vuorio[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Bruce Budowle[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Frederick Raal[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Petri T Kovanen[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39152892
- PMCID: PMC11332304
- DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2390166
There is growing concern that the severe respiratory disease in birds (avian influenza or 'bird flu') caused by the H5N1 influenza virus, might potentially spread more widely to humans and cause a pandemic. Here we discuss clinical issues related to human infections by the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype of the avian influenza A virus and make a clinical comparison with recent information obtained from studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Firstly, we consider the potential increase in cardiovascular events in humans infected with the H5N1 virus. Like SARS-CoV-2 infection, H5N1 infection may result in endothelial dysfunction and the associated procoagulant and prothrombotic state, and via this mechanism, the infection can potentially increase cardiovascular morbidity, especially in vulnerable individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Secondly, we discuss the potential beneficial role of statin use, both in the prophylaxis and the treatment of individuals with influenza A(H5N1), as was found favorable for the treatment of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords: Avian influenza; COVID-19; H5N1 influenza virus; cardiovascular; endothelial dysfunction; pandemic; statins.