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Multicenter Analysis of Clinical Features and Prognosis of COVID-19 Patients with Hepatic Impairment

Jeong Eun Song1, Min Kyu Kang2, Yu Rim Lee3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Gut and Liver
|March 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Abnormal liver enzymes are common in COVID-19 patients and linked to worse outcomes. Careful monitoring of liver function is crucial, especially when using certain medications like lopinavir/ritonavir and antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Liver enzyme abnormalities are increasingly observed in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • Understanding the clinical implications of these abnormalities is essential for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of COVID-19 patients presenting with abnormal liver enzymes.
  • To identify factors associated with elevated aminotransferase levels in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted involving 874 COVID-19 patients.
  • Data collected included clinical features, laboratory parameters, medications, and treatment outcomes, with comparisons made between patients with normal and abnormal aminotransferase levels.

Main Results:

  • Over 41% of COVID-19 patients exhibited abnormal aminotransferase levels, with higher prevalence in severe cases.
  • Male sex, higher BMI, severe COVID-19, and lower platelet counts were independently associated with elevated liver enzymes.
  • Use of lopinavir/ritonavir and antibiotics post-admission increased the likelihood of abnormal liver enzymes.
  • Patients with abnormal liver enzymes experienced longer quarantine periods and higher mortality rates.

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal aminotransferase levels are a frequent finding in COVID-19 and correlate with adverse clinical outcomes.
  • The study highlights the need for vigilant monitoring of liver function, particularly in patients receiving lopinavir/ritonavir or antibiotics, due to their association with elevated liver enzymes.
Abstract

Keywords:
AminotransferaseCOVID-19Lopinavir-ritonavirPrognosisSARS-CoV-2

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