Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic associated with a significant mortality rate, mainly due to acute respiratory distress syndrome and fatal cardiovascular complications. A considerable amount of hospitalized COVID-19 patients develop right ventricular (RV) or left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and it has been associated with increased myocardial injury and death.
As these dysfunctions are linked to alterations in myocardial energy metabolism, scientists suggested improving mitochondrial bioenergetics with the cardiometabolic drug meldonium and therefore reducing the development of cardiovascular complications.
Preclinical animal studies resembling cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients show that meldonium treatment prevents the development of RV and LV dysfunction and it is realized by enhancing mitochondrial function.
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Vilskersts, R.*, Kigitovica, D., Korzh, S., Videja, M., Vilks, K., Cirule, H., Skride, A., Makrecka-Kuka, M., Liepinsh, E., Dambrova, M.
Protective Effects of Meldonium in Experimental Models of Cardiovascular Complications with a Potential Application in COVID-19.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 45. DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010045