COVID-19 and priapism: An unexplored association.

Abstract

Our understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to evolve. Much has been written about the respiratory and proinflammatory sequelae of this condition. SARS-CoV-2 infection is mediated by the binding of the viral spike protein to angiotensin-convertingenzyme2(ACE2). [1] ACE2ishighlyexpressed in the endothelium (as well as in the lungs, kidney, liver, and heart), and this is thought to be the underlying cause of the thrombotic com-plications of COVID-19. Endothelial dysfunction resulting from endothelial activation and reduced endothelium-dependent vasodila-tation underlies the hallmark of COVID-19 as a proinflammatory and procoagulant milieu. [2]