Erythrocytes Induce Vascular Dysfunction in COVID-19

•Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 display marked impairment in endothelial function, which is persistent following recovery from the acute infection.•RBCs from patients with COVID-19 impair vascular function through mechanisms involving increased arginase 1, ROS and IFNγ, and reduced NO bioactivity.•These data advance our understanding in COVID-19–associated vascular injury with a clear involvement of RBCs.•Targeting these mechanisms might provide a novel therapeutic strategy to alleviate vascular injury in patients with COVID-19.