ABSTRACT
Introduction: Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) infection occurs through the receptor's angiotensin converting enzyme 2, present in the pulmonary, biliary, and hepatic epithelial cells. Therefore, the liver is a potential target for infection. Objectives: To analyze liver changes resulting from Sars-Cov-2 infection in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Rondônia Tropical Medicine Center (CEMETRON). Methods: Patients admitted between April and August 2020 in the CEMETRON ICU were included in the study. Project approved by the Research Ethics Committee. For statistical analysis, the SPSS® program was used. Results: 307 patients were admitted to the CEMETRON ICU. 81 (26.4%) non-COVID and 226 (73.6%) diagnosed with COVID. Among the 226 tested positive for COVID, 52.3% and 54.3% had, respectively, an increase in ALT and AST up to three times the upper limit of normal (40-120U/L). Non-COVID patients showed this increase in 20.8% for ALT and 33.3% for AST, being statistically significant (p: <0.005 for both). Transaminases above 120U/L had no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Regarding liver function assessed through bilirubin, albumin and platelets, there was no statistically significant difference in any of the variables (p: 0.93 p: 0.45 p: 0.599 respectively). The means varied within the normal range, except for both groups there was a tendency towards hypoalbuminemia (3.1 g / dL). Conclusion: Patients with COVID evolved in more than 50% of the cases with changes in liver enzymes, showing that despite the inflammation, liver function was not directly affected. We associate hypoalbuminemia more with basal malnutrition than with hepatic impairment.