As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, it is important that everyone knows the dangers it poses to both individuals and the ecosystem. Learn about the various ways COVID-19 damages the kidneys in this article.

1. Post Covid Syndrome: Kidney
Damage as a result of COVID-19
Coronavirus: Kidney Damage Caused Due to
COVID-19
COVID-19 the disease caused by the coronavirus that has led to
the global pandemic is known to damage the lungs. But, as more
people become diseased, more understanding of the disease
emerges.
Primary care physicians and researchers are finding that this
coronavirus officially known as SARS-CoV-2 could also cause
serious and lasting harm in other organs, including the heart and
kidneys. C. John Sperati, M.D., M.H.S., an expert in kidney health,
expresses how the new coronavirus may affect kidney function as
the disease develops and afterward as a person recovers.

2. COVID-19 Kidney Damage: A Possible
Complication
Some people suffering from serious cases of COVID-19 are
displaying signs of kidney damage, even those who had no hidden
kidney problems before they were diseased with the coronavirus.
Early reports say that up to 30 percent of patients hospitalized with
COVID-19 in China and New York developed moderate or serious
kidney injury. Reports from primary care physicians in New York are
saying the percentage could be higher.
Signs of kidney damage problems in patients with COVID-19
include high levels of protein in the urine and unusual blood work.
The kidney damage is, in some cases, serious enough to need
dialysis. Some hospitals experiencing surges of patients who are
very ill with COVID-19 have reported they are running short on the
machines and sterile fluids required to perform these kidney
procedures.
“Many patients with serious COVID-19 are those with co-existing,
chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
Both of these raise the risk of kidney disease,” Sperati says.
But Sperati and other primary care physicians are also seeing
kidney damage in people who did not have kidney problems before
they got diseased with the virus.

3. How does COVID-19 damage the kidneys?
The impact of COVID-19 on the kidneys is not yet clear. Here are
some possibilities primary care physicians and researchers are
exploring:
Coronavirus may target kidney cells
The coronavirus itself infects the cells of the kidney. Kidney cells
have receptors that allow the new coronavirus to attach to them,
invade, and make copies of itself, possibly damaging those tissues.
Same receptors are found on cells of the lungs and heart, where
the new coronavirus has been shown to cause injury.
Too little oxygen could cause kidneys to malfunction
Another possibility is that kidney problems in patients with the
coronavirus are because of unusually low levels of oxygen in the
blood, a result of pneumonia frequently seen in serious cases of the
disease.
Cytokine storms could destroy kidney tissue
The body’s reaction to the infection might be responsible as well.
The immune response to the new coronavirus could be extreme in
some people, leading to what is known as a cytokine storm.
When that occurs, the immune system sends a rush of cytokines
into the body. Cytokines are small proteins that help the cells
interact as the immune system fights an infection. But this
unexpected, large influx of cytokines could cause serious swelling.
In trying to kill the attacking virus, this inflammatory reaction could
destroy healthy tissue, including that of the kidneys.
COVID-19 causes blood clots that might clog or block the kidneys
The kidneys are like filters or screens that screen out toxins, extra
water, and waste products from the body. COVID-19 could cause
small clots to form in the bloodstream, which could block the tiniest
blood vessels in the kidney and damage its function.

4. Coronavirus Kidney Damage: A Serious Sign
Organ systems like the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys depend on
and support one another's functions, so when the new coronavirus
causes damage in one region, others may be at risk. The kidneys’
important functions have an impact on the heart, lungs, and other
systems. That might be why primary care physicians note that
kidney damage arising in patients with COVID-19 is a possible
warning sign of a severe, even fatal course of the disease.
Also Read: Post-COVID Bronchiectasis | Interstitial Lung
Disease and Treatment

5. Can kidneys heal after COVID-19?
As of yet, Sperati says, it is doubtful how many people with
COVID-19 associated kidney damage regain their kidney function.
Patients with acute kidney injury because of COVID-19 who do not
need dialysis will have better outcomes than those who require
dialysis, and we have seen patients at Johns Hopkins who recover
kidney function. We have even had patients in the intensive care
unit (ICU) with acute kidney injury who have needed dialysis and
subsequently regained their kidney function. How frequently that
happens is still unknown, but without question, the requirement for
dialysis is a worrisome development in patients with COVID-19.
Do I need to continue taking my high blood
pressure medication?
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a frequent cause of kidney
problems. Hypertension affects the blood vessels of the kidneys
and damages their ability to filter the blood. Kidneys also help to
regulate blood pressure, so kidney damage could make
hypertension worse. Over time, hypertension could cause kidney
failure.
If you are living with hypertension, you may take medication for the
problem. You might be reading news reports questioning the safety
of taking specific prescription medicines to manage their condition:
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
Sperati says that patients should stay on their medications and
discuss concerns with their primary care physicians.
Also Read: Post COVID Care for the Persons Living With
Dementia

6. Right now there are two sides debating this problem. One side is
saying, based on animal studies, that these medications may be
harmful, raising the risk of infection. The other says these same
drugs may protect against lung damage and other problems related
to COVID-19.
But all of the professional societies have published articles
suggesting that you not change your medications, he says. Staying
the course with your prescriptions, he adds, could lower the risk of
heart and kidney damage from unchecked high blood pressure.
Sperati does suggest that patients with kidney problems stay away
from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for example,
ibuprofen and naproxen. These could increase blood pressure and
increase fluid volume in the body, which puts strain on the kidneys.
Research is disclosing more about
SARS-CoV-2 kidney damage
While kidney damage from COVID-19 is still not well understood,
more data will disclose how this happens. Sperati, who also
conducts research on kidney disease, says the Johns Hopkins
Division of Nephrology is exploring exactly how SARS-CoV-2 and
the body’s response to it are damaging kidney health.
Patients with COVID-19 associated kidney damage should follow
up with their primary care physicians to make sure kidney function

7. is returning to normal. Lasting kidney damage may need dialysis or
other therapies even after recovery from COVID-19.
Mostly, Sperati emphasizes the importance of adhering to
guidelines around physical distancing and hand-washing, the basics
of prevention. For everyone, particularly people with hidden chronic
disease, avoiding infection with COVID-19 for as long as you could
is important, he says.
Right now, we do not have a treatment or vaccine for this disease.
The longer a person could go without getting infected, the better
chance they have of benefiting from a future therapy.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from post-covid kidney
damage problems, our expert providers at Post Covid Centers
will take care of your health and help you recover.
Call 469-545-9983 to book a telehealth appointment for a home
check-up.