Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and covid-19 complications / Inibidores do sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona e complicações da covid-19

The world faces today a pandemic of unquestionable importance, caused by an infection with a new enveloped RNA virus that belongs to the Coronaviridae family. The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2) uses a glycoprotein present on its surface to bind to and infect host cells that express the angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE-2). Although different tissues may be targeted by the virus, respiratory complications remain as the main cause of death. It has been demonstrated that Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) inhibitors increase ACE-2 expression in animal models, raising the concern that patients under treatment with these drugs could become more susceptible to COVID-19 complications. Here, we discuss the impact of RAAS inhibitors on COVID-19 outcomes and show that no evidence so far supports that the use of these drugs could pose a risk to SARS-CoV 2-infected patients. In fact, clinical data suggest that RAAS inhibitors may even act in a protective way against COVID-19 complications and should not be discontinued.,