ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged, causing the current pandemic of acute respiratory disease known as COVID-19. Liver injury due to COVID-19 is defined as any liver injury occurring during the course of the disease and treatment of patients with COVID-19, with or without liver disease. The incidence of elevated liver transaminases, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ranges from 2.5 to 76.3%. The aim of the present study was to describe the hepatic biochemical abnormalities, after a SARS-CoV-2-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and the mortality rate in critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted that included 70 patients seen at a private hospital in Mexico City, within the time frame of February-December 2021. Median patient age was 44.5 years (range: 37-57.2) and 43 (61.4%) of the patients were men. Liver function tests were performed on the patients at hospital admission. RESULTS: Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were elevated (pâ¯=â¯0.032), as were those of AST (pâ¯=â¯0.011) and ALT (pâ¯=â¯0.021). The patients were stratified into age groups: 18-35, 36-50, and > 50 years of age. The 18 to 35-year-olds had the highest liver enzyme levels and transaminase levels were higher, the younger the patient. Due to the low mortality rate (one patient whose death did not coincide with a hepatic cause), the multivariate analysis showed an R2 association of 0.689, explained by AST, GGT, and C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increase in transaminases in our study population during the course of COVID-19, there was no increase in mortality. Nevertheless, hospitalized patient progression should be continuously followed.
ABSTRACT
Graphical Introduction and aim Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged, causing the current pandemic of acute respiratory disease known as COVID-19. Liver injury due to COVID-19 is defined as any liver injury occurring during the course of the disease and treatment of patients with COVID-19, with or without liver disease. The incidence of elevated liver transaminases, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ranges from 2.5 to 76.3%. The aim of the present study was to describe the hepatic biochemical abnormalities, after a SARS-CoV-2-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and the mortality rate in critically ill patients. Materials and methods A retrospective study was conducted that included 70 patients seen at a private hospital in Mexico City, within the time frame of February-December 2021. Median patient age was 44.5 years (range: 37-57.2) and 43 (61.4%) of the patients were men. Liver function tests were performed on the patients at hospital admission. Results Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were elevated (p = 0.032), as were those of AST (p = 0.011) and ALT (p = 0.021). The patients were stratified into age groups: 18-35, 36-50, and > 50 years of age. The 18 to 35-year-olds had the highest liver enzyme levels and transaminase levels were higher, the younger the patient. Due to the low mortality rate (one patient whose death did not coincide with a hepatic cause), the multivariate analysis showed an R2 association of 0.689, explained by AST, GGT, and C-reactive protein levels. Conclusions Despite the increase in transaminases in our study population during the course of COVID-19, there was no increase in mortality. Nevertheless, hospitalized patient progression should be continuously followed.
ABSTRACT
Introducción y objetivo: La pandemia por coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19), puede causar El síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV-2) emergió, causando la pandemia actual de enfermedad respiratoria aguda llamada COVID-19. La lesión hepática por COVID-19 se define como cualquier daño hepático que ocurra durante el curso de la enfermedad y el tratamiento de pacientes con COVID-19, con o sin enfermedad hepática. La incidencia de transaminasas hepáticas elevadas, ALT (alanina aminotransferasa) y AST (aspartato aminotransferasa), va de 2.5% a 76.3%. El objetivo del estudio fue describir las anormalidades bioquímicas hepáticas posterior a la prueba reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) positiva para SARS-CoV-2 y mortalidad en el paciente crítico. Material y métodos: Es un estudio retrospectivo, se incluyeron 70 pacientes, la mediana de edad 44.5 (rango 37-57.2), siendo del sexo masculino 43 (61.4%), de un hospital privado de la Ciudad de México, se midieron al ingreso hospitalario las pruebas de función hepática. Período de febrero-diciembre 2021. Resultados: Encontrando elevación de gamma-glutamil transferasa (GGT) p 0.032, aspartato aminotransferasa (AST) p 0.011, alanina-aminotransferasa (ALT) p 0.021, los pacientes se estratificaron en grupo de edad, 18-35, 36-50 y > 50 años. La mayor elevación fue de 18-35 años, entre más joven mayor elevación de transaminasas, debido a la baja mortalidad, 1 paciente, que no coincide con causa hepática, el análisis multivariado explicó una asociación R2.689 p 0.001, explicado por AST, GGT y proteína C reactiva. Conclusiones: A pesar del incremento de transaminasas durante la infección por COVID 19, en nuestra población no aumentó la mortalidad, si bien, debe darse seguimiento continuo durante la evolución hospitalaria.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged, causing the current pandemic of acute respiratory disease known as COVID-19. Liver injury due to COVID-19 is defined as any liver injury occurring during the course of the disease and treatment of patients with COVID-19, with or without liver disease. The incidence of elevated liver transaminases, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ranges from 2.5 to 76.3%. The aim of the present study was to describe the hepatic biochemical abnormalities, after a SARS-CoV-2-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and the mortality rate in critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted that included 70 patients seen at a private hospital in Mexico City, within the time frame of February-December 2021. Median patient age was 44.5 years (range: 37-57.2) and 43 (61.4%) of the patients were men. Liver function tests were performed on the patients at hospital admission. RESULTS: Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were elevated (p = 0.032), as were those of AST (p = 0.011) and ALT (p = 0.021). The patients were stratified into age groups: 18-35, 36-50, and > 50 years of age. The 18 to 35-year-olds had the highest liver enzyme levels and transaminase levels were higher, the younger the patient. Due to the low mortality rate (one patient whose death did not coincide with a hepatic cause), the multivariate analysis showed an R2 association of 0.689, explained by AST, GGT, and C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increase in transaminases in our study population during the course of COVID-19, there was no increase in mortality. Nevertheless, hospitalized patient progression should be continuously followed.