Hepatic consequences of COVID-19 infection. Lapping or biting?

Abstract

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) starting last December in China placed emphasis on liver involvement during infection. This review discusses the underlying mechanisms linking COVID-19 to liver dysfunction, according to recent available information, while waiting further studies. The manifestations of liver damage are usually mild (moderately elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase activities), and generally asymptomatic. Few patients can still develop severe liver problems, and therapeutic options can be limited. Liver dysfunction may affect about one-third of the patients, with prevalence greater in men than women, and in elderly. Mechanisms of damage are complex and include direct cholangiocyte damage and other coexisting conditions such as the use of antiviral drugs, systemic inflammatory response, respiratory distress syndrome-induced hypoxia, sepsis, and multiple organ dysfunction. During new COVID-19 infections, liver injury may be observed. If liver involvement appears during COVID-19 infection, however, attention is required. This is particularly true if patients are older or have a pre-existing history of liver diseases. During COVID-19 infection, the onset of liver damage impairs the prognosis, and hospital stay is longer.

• Authors: Piero Portincasa, Marcin Krawczyk, Antonia Machill, Frank Lammert, Agostino Di Ciaula
• Journal: European journal of internal medicine (Eur J Intern Med) Vol. 77 Pg. 18-24 (Jul 2020) ISSN: 1879-0828 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 32507608 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Betacoronavirus
• COVID-19
• Coronavirus Infections (complications, pathology, therapy)
• Humans
• Liver Diseases (diagnosis, therapy, virology)
• Pandemics
• Pneumonia, Viral (complications, pathology, therapy)
• SARS-CoV-2