查看文章

Methods

We measured enzymatically active plasma ACE2 concentration (subsequently referred to as “ACE2”) and key RAS metabolites in 532 blood samples obtained from 126 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the primary COVID-19 care facility in the metropolitan area of Vienna (Klinik Favoriten) between March 15 and June 30, 2020. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Vienna (EK# 1315/2020). Severity of disease was graded by the maximum requirement for respiratory support during hospitalization as severe (requiring invasive, mechanical ventilation at least once during the disease course) versus nonsevere (ranging from asymptomatic [patients who were hospitalized for non–SARS-CoV-2–related disease on top of SARS-CoV-2 infection] to noninvasive ventilation). As a comparator group, we included 27 patients who had been critically ill with influenza …