Sulodexide in the treatment of patients with long COVID 19 symptoms and endothelial dysfunction: The results of TUN-EndCOV study

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is probably one of the mechanisms of long COVID-19 symptoms. Sulodexide has pleiotropic properties within the vascular endothelium that can prove beneficial in the long COVID-19 symptoms. PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of sulodexide when used in patients with endothelial dysfunction and long COVID-19 symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicenter longitudinal case-control study. Endothelial function was evaluated with DTM “E4-Diagnose” Polymath based on the Endothelium Quality Index (EQI). A group of patients with endothelial dysfunction (EQI < 2.0) received sulodexide. All the patients were followed-up 21 days after inclusion. Primary outcomes were defined as endothelial function amelioration (delta EQI) and long COVID-19 symptoms evolution during the follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients were included in this study. Patients were included at an average time of 1.89 ± 1.2 month after COVID-19 infection. At inclusion, 210 (51.2%) patients had an EQI < 2. The median age was 49 ± 13.8 (18–80) years. Among the patients with endothelial dysfunction, only 79 patients received sulodexide. Patients in sulodexide group had lower EQI than the non-medical intervention group (0.94 ± 0.6 vs. 1.52 ± 0.4; P < 10(−3)). They were more diabetic, hypertensive, had more coronary artery disease and received more long-term medications (aspirin, Bblockers and statins) than the others (P = 0.01, 0.002, 0.01, 0.009, 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). At the 21-days follow-up, patients in sulodexide group presented lower long COVID symptoms especially chest pain, palpitations, fatigue and neuro-cognitive difficulties associated to a significant amelioration of endothelial function (delta EQI 1.26 ± 1.07 vs. 0.22 ± 0.7; P < 10(−3)). CONCLUSION: Sulodexide in patients with long COVID-19 may be a good intervention to ameliorate chest pain, palpitations, fatigue and neuro-cognitive difficulties associated to endothelial dysfunction.