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. 2023 Feb 17;13(2):349.
doi: 10.3390/jpm13020349.

Liver Damage Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Myth or Reality?

Mihaela Cătălina Luca  1   2 , Isabela Ioana Loghin  1   2 , Ioana Florina Mihai  1   3 , Radu Popa  1   4 , Andrei Vâţă  1   2 , Carmen Manciuc  1   2
Affiliations

Liver Damage Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Myth or Reality?

Mihaela Cătălina Luca et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

(1) Introduction: While the primary impairment in COVID-19 is pulmonary, the ubiquitous distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) demonstrates the possible presence of systemic disease with involvement of the heart, kidneys, liver and other organs. (2) Methods: We retrospectively studied the observation sheets of patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized in the "Sf. Parascheva" Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases from Iasi for a period of 3 months. The aim of the study was to identify the frequency of liver injury due to SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients and its impact on the course of the disease. (3) Results: Out of the total number of hospitalized cases (1552), 207 (13.34%) were the subjects of our analysis. The severe form of SARS-CoV-2 infection predominated (108 cases; 52.17%) and in terms of liver damage, in all cases increased transaminase levels predominated and were determined to be secondary to the viral infection. We divided the lot into two groups, A (23 cases; 23.19%) and B (159 cases; 76.81%), depending on the time of onset of liver dysfunction, either at the time of hospitalization or during hospitalization. The evolution of liver dysfunction was predominant in most cases, with an average time of onset at 12.4 days of hospitalization. Death occurred in 50 cases. (4) Conclusions: This study revealed that high AST and ALT at hospital admission was associated with a high mortality risk in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, abnormal liver test results can be a significant prognostic indicator of outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; liver damage; serum aminotransferases.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of patients according to age group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dynamic changes in transaminase levels in all patients from group A; (a) aspartate aminotransferase and (b) alanine transaminase.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dynamic changes in transaminase levels in all patients from group B; (A) aspartate aminotransferase and (B) alanine transaminase.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The treatment used for SARS-CoV-2 infection in group A versus group B.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The treatment used prior to hospitalization in group A versus group B.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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