. 2020 May 18.
doi: 10.1016/j.aohep.2020.05.001. Online ahead of print.
The Liver in Times of COVID-19: What Hepatologists Should Know
Ezequiel Ridruejo 1 2 3 , Alejandro Soza 3 4
Affiliations
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a serious threat to healthcare systems globally. Information regarding to the how the infection affects the liver and relevance of pre-existing liver disease as a risk factor for acquiring the infection or having a severe disease are still scarce. Also, considerations to be considered in liver transplant patients or those having hepatocellular carcinoma or are under immunosuppressive therapy are being matter of analysis as information is being generated. Different treatments for COVID-19 are currently under study some of which may be associated to hepatotoxicity. In the present review we discuss current data on the COVID-19 and liver aiming to provide hepatologists with updated information to face this pandemic.
Keywords: ACE2, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; EVD, Ebola virus disease; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; ICU, intensive care unit; IL, interleukin; ILCA, International Liver Cancer Association; MAFLD, metabolic associated fatty liver diseases; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NIDDK, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; RdRp, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; WHO, World Health Organization; coronavirus; immunosuppression; liver disease; nsp, non-structural proteins; transplantation, cirrhosis.