Management of Sacubitril/Valsartan Combination in an End-stage Heart Failure Patient Hospitalized for COVID-19 Pneumonia: Should we Withdraw Temporarily or Continue?
1Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Hospital Alanya Application and Research Center, Antalya, Turkey
2Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Hospital İzmir Zübeyde Hanım Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey
J Clin Pract Res 2021; 43(6): 617-619 DOI: 10.14744/etd.2020.77010
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Abstract

Background: Many factors were blamed for the worse prognosis in COVID-19. Heart failure patients are thought to be un-der increased risk because of either immune-compromised basal status or possible interaction of viral infection with on-going medications, such as the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers. Sacubitril is a neprilysin inhibitor and its’ combination with valsartan is recommended as a novel medication for heart failure.
Case Report: A 71 years of age female with end-stage heart failure was hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia. She was under sacubitril/valsartan combination for the heart failure, and at the end of the first week of hospitalization, clinical and laboratory parameters recovered uneventfully. Sacubitril/valsartan therapy was continued without complications during the in-hospital course.
Conclusion: Specific therapies for heart failure should not be withdrawn in COVID-19. To our knowledge, this is the first case report documenting the clinical progress of a COVID-19 pneumonia patient who was already under sacubitril/valsartan treatment.