Direct or collateral liver damage in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients
Journal
Seminars in Liver Disease
ISSN
0272-8087
1098-8971
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Lizardo-Thiebaud, María José
Cervantes-Álvarez, Eduardo
Limón-de la Rosa, Nathaly
Palacios-Jiménez, Mildred
Méndez-Guerrero, Osvely
Delaye-Martínez, Marco
Rodríguez-Álvarez, Fátima
Romero-Morales, Beatriz
Wei-Hui, Liu
Huang, Christene A.
Kershenobich, David
Navarro Álvarez, Nalu
Type
Resource Types::text::journal::journal article
DOI
URL
Abstract
Liver injury can result from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with more than one-third of COVID-19 patients exhibiting elevated liver enzymes. Microvesicular steatosis, inflammation, vascular congestion, and thrombosis in the liver have been described in autopsy samples from COVID-19 patients. Several factors, including direct cytopathic effect of the virus, immune-mediated collateral damage, or an exacerbation of preexisting liver disease may contribute to liver pathology in COVID-19. Due to its immunological functions, the liver is an organ likely to participate in the viral response against SARS-CoV-2 and this may predispose it to injury. A better understanding of the mechanism contributing to liver injury is needed to develop and implement early measures to prevent serious liver damage in patients suffering from COVID-19. This review summarizes current reports of SARS-CoV-2 with an emphasis on how direct infection and subsequent severe inflammatory response may contribute to liver injury in patients with and without preexisting liver disease. © 2020 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.