[Gastrointestinal manifestations and liver disorders in patients with COVID-19]

SARS-CoV-2 infection began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, where the first cases of pneumonia were described. The infection spread rapidly and was established as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2020. In Mexico, the first cases were in March 2020. Although the classic symptoms are respiratory, gastrointestinal symptoms have been described in 17%, as well as hepatic disorders associated with pneumonia.

To describe the gastrointestinal manifestations and hepatic alterations in patients with COVID-19 from July 2020 to January 2021 in a tertiary-care hospital.

Clinical, cross-sectional, prolective, observational, analytical study, which included patients of 18 years or older hospitalized with COVID-19, confirmed by PCR for SARS-CoV-2.

84 patients were included, 65% male (55). Mean age was of 59 (± 13.3) years. Reported comorbidities were systemic arterial hypertension (51%), type 2 diabetes (38%), and obesity (26%). The predominant pattern was hepatocellular with elevation of AST (38) 45%, ALT (36)42%, GGT (30) 34% and FA (11) 13%. The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms was 71% (60/84), with diarrhea being the most frequent 53% (4 bowel movements/day) and dysgeusia (36.9%). There were 12 patients (10.02%) who presented diarrhea as the initial symptom with respiratory complications 5-7 days later.

Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations occurred in 71% of the patients.