Reply to Rheumatologists' perspective on coronavirus disease 19: is heparin the dark horse for COVID-19?

We read with interest the review on pharmacological treatments for COVID-19 [1]. The authors have quite succinctly presented all major therapies being attempted. In this regard, we would like to point out that heparin is also another candidate drug with proven mortality benefit in a subset of patients [2]. Disseminated intra-vascular coagulation (DIC) is a known complication of COVID-19 and pulmonary autopsies from deceased patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have shown multiple microthrombi. The use of heparin for more than 7 days in 99 patients led to reduced mortality in those with sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) score ≥ 4 or D-dimer > 6-fold of upper limit of normal [2]. Heparin has multiple possible mechanisms of action which may support its use for COVID-19.

SARS coronavirus strain HSR1 multiplication can be directly inhibited by heparin as evidenced by reduction of viral plaques by 50% on addition of heparin to Vero cell cultures [3]. One of the mechanisms of inhibition of cellular entry of SARS coronavirus is via lactoferrin binding [4]. It has shown that even the spike protein S1 of the SARS-CoV-2 undergoes a conformational change on exposure to heparin [5]. Thus, heparin might inhibit cellular entry of the virus. This mechanism is likely to be more important during the early phases of the disease.

SARS-CoV-2 entry into a cell via the ACE2 receptor leads to shedding of this receptor [6]. We hypothesize that this predisposes to thrombosis. ACE2 normally cleaves bradykinin, and thus, low ACE2 causes bradykinin accumulation that may accelerate thrombosis. The knockout of bradykinin receptor B2 can prevent thrombosis in a murine model [7]. Also, ACE2 levels are found to be low in pulmonary thromboembolism.

The reduced ACE2 level increases angiotensin as well as aldosterone levels. Angiotensin can activate prothrombin leading to a procoagulant state [8]. Furthermore, RAAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system) activation is linked to thrombosis by multiple mechanisms [9]. Therefore, ACE2 downregulation by SARS-CoV-2 may lead to enhanced thrombosis. In addition to its anticoagulant effects, heparin can also abrogate the adverse effects of RAAS activation as shown in mouse cardiomyocytes [10].

The potential mechanisms of action of heparin in COVID-19 are represented diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Potential mechanisms of action of heparin in COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; RAAS, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

To summarize, SARS-CoV-2 can possibly activate the RAAS axis via ACE2 shedding and promote thrombosis. Heparin may prove to be beneficial by inhibiting viral entry into cells and antagonizing RAAS activation in addition to exerting its anti-coagulation effects in the aftermath of severe inflammation and SIC. Therefore, the optimal timing of administration of heparin along with the predictors of benefit should be explored in the confines of randomized or at least pragmatic trials.