A manuscript by Dr. James Diaz, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (ENHS) program director at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) School of Public Health, was published in the Journal of Travel Medicine titled “Hypothesis: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may increase the risk of severe COVID-19.”

The article highlights intravenous infusions of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in experimental animals increase the numbers of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in the cardiopulmonary circulation. ACE2 receptors serve as binding sites for SARS-CoV-2 virions in the lungs. Patients who take ACEIs and ARBS may be at increased risk of severe disease outcomes due to SARS-CoV-2 infections.  Article (free access)