Lipase Elevation in Patients With COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Although coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been associated with gastrointestinal manifestations, its effect on the pancreas remains unclear. We aimed to assess the frequency and characteristics of hyperlipasemia in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients across 6 US centers with COVID-19. RESULTS: Of 71 patients, 9 (12.1%) developed hyperlipasemia, with 2 (2.8%) greater than 3 times upper limit of normal. No patient developed acute pancreatitis. Hyperlipasemia was not associated with poor outcomes or symptoms. DISCUSSION: Although a mild elevation in serum lipase was observed in some patients with COVID-19, clinical acute pancreatitis was not seen.

A case of type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis with spontaneous remission.

A 70-year-old man with epigastric pain was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed the diffusely enlarged pancreas compared to his normal pancreas 6 months prior to presentation. Serum levels of IgG4 and amylase were normal, while C-reactive protein was slightly elevated. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy of the pancreas revealed acinar-ductal metaplasia with neutrophil infiltration and without infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. After the clinical diagnosis of type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), his symptoms spontaneously improved without steroid therapy. Three months later, radiological findings showed improved pancreas size and serological findings. The pathological diagnosis of type 2 AIP using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy is challenging, particularly for proving granulocyte epithelial lesions. This was a valuable type 2 AIP case in which the images before, at the time of onset, and at the time of spontaneous remission were evaluated.

IgG4-Related Disease: A Constellation of Abdominal Manifestations.

IgG4-related disease is an autoimmune condition that results in inflammation and fibrosis throughout multiple organ systems. This disease is rare; however, it can mimic many more prevalent conditions clinically and thus should be included in their differential diagnoses. Although autoimmune pancreatitis is the most common abdominal manifestation, the disease can afflict the hepatobiliary, vascular and renal systems as well. We present a case of a 78-year-old male with symptoms of chronic fatigue and weight loss. Imaging was performed with the expectation of revealing a malignancy, although the features of IgG4-related disease involving multiple organs were detected instead. Serology confirmed the diagnosis. It is imperative to diagnose IgG4-related disease early as it has a different treatment and favorable prognosis compared to many malignancies.

Acute pancreatitis and COVID-19: a new target for infection?

This review aimed to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 is capable of infecting the gland and causing acute pancreatitis, and the peculiarities in the management of these cases. The research was conducted through PubMed® database, and 62 articles were systematically selected for analysis. Differences were found in the literature; however, there are important warnings, such as the presence of hyperlipasemia, clinical and imaging findings suggestive of acute pancreatitis in the presence and even in the absence of respiratory symptoms. Attention should be paid to clinical and imaging findings during this virus infection, since it is possible to identify these two diseases early. Therefore, it is possible to detect and isolate these patients more quickly, providing the correct care and decreasing the morbidity and mortality of two potentially severe diseases.

Abdominal and gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19 patients: Is imaging useful?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be considered a systemic disease with a specific tropism for the vascular system, in which the alterations of the microcirculation have an important pathogenetic role. The lungs are the main organ involved in COVID-19, and severe progressive respiratory failure is the leading cause of death in the affected patients; however, many other organs can be involved with variable clinical manifestations. Concerning abdominal manifestations, the gastrointestinal tract and the hepatobiliary system are mainly affected, although the pancreas, urinary tract and spleen may also be involved. The most common gastrointestinal symptoms are loss of appetite, followed by nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Gastrointestinal imaging findings include bowel wall thickening, sometimes associated with hyperemia and mesenteric thickening, fluid-filled segments of the large bowel and rarely intestinal pneumatosis and ischemia. Hepatic involvement manifests as an increase in the enzymatic levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, serum bilirubin and γ-glutamyl transferase with clinical manifestations in most cases mild and transient. The most frequent radiological features are hepatic steatosis, biliary sludge and gallstones. Edematous acute pancreatitis, kidney infarct and acute kidney injury from acute tubular necrosis have been described more rarely in COVID-19. Lastly, splenic involvement is characterized by splenomegaly and by the development of solitary or multifocal splenic infarcts with classic wedge-shaped or even rounded morphology, with irregular or smooth profiles. In summary, the abdominal radiological findings of COVID-19 are nonspecific and with poor pathological correlation reported in the literature. Ultrasound and particularly computed tomography with multiphasic acquisition are the diagnostic methods mainly utilized in COVID-19 patients with abdominal clinical symptoms and signs. Although radiological signs are not specific of abdominal and gastrointestinal involvement, the diagnostic imaging modalities and in particular computed tomography are helpful for the clinician in the management, evaluation of the severity and evolution of the COVID-19 patients.

Acute pancreatitis in a patient with COVID-19.

COVID-19 mainly causes pulmonary disease. Involvement of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems, among other systems, has been reported. We report a case of acute pancreatitis in a patient with resolving COVID-19 pneumonia. History taking and investigations excluded other causes of pancreatitis. This case demonstrates the possibility of pancreatic injury in patients with COVID-19, in line with previously reported similar cases. We believe that it is imperative to screen patients presenting with acute pancreatitis for SARS-CoV-2. It is also important to take into consideration that patients with a complicated course who require an invasive procedure such as drainage might pose a risk of transmission to the operating surgeon or interventionist.

High lipasemia is frequent in Covid-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 is a rapidly spreading viral disease that can cause severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Besides the lungs it can also affect other organs like the heart or the liver. Whether there is a pancreatic manifestation as well is currently unclear. METHODS: and aims: We prospectively collected patient information of patients with Covid-19 associated ARDS in a registry (COvid Registry REChts der Isar intensive care Trial - CORRECT) and analyzed this patient cohort for signs of acute pancreatitis (e.g. lipase activity >3 times the upper limit). RESULTS: 12/38 (31.6%) patients with Covid-19 associated ARDS had a serum lipase activity >180 U/l. Median lipase activity was 422 U/l (186-1127). No patient showed typical findings of acute pancreatitis on imaging studies. On hemodynamic monitoring no patient had signs of intravascular fluid demand regarding MAP, GEDVI and therapy with vasopressors. To avoid worsening respiratory function no treatment with crystalloids was initiated. Lipasemia was not explained by gastroenteritis or renal insufficiency, occurred before as well as after viral clearance and 16.1 ± 6.0 days after the first symptoms. No patient developed severe acute pancreatitis during the follow up period of 35.8 ± 8.3 days. CONCLUSION: High lipasemia without typical signs of acute pancreatitis is a frequent finding in severe Covid-19 associated ARDS. Considering the markedly high levels of serum lipase activity, we think impaired microcirculation in severely ill patients can explain this finding rather than extra-pancreatic co-morbidities (UTN: DRKS00021612).

Case Report: Paralytic Ileus: A Potential Extrapulmonary Manifestation of Severe COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has recently spread worldwide, presenting primarily in the form of pneumonia or other respiratory disease. In addition, gastrointestinal manifestations have increasingly been reported as one of the extrapulmonary features of the virus. We report two cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by paralytic ileus. The first patient was a 33-year-old man who was hospitalized with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring ventilator support and intensive care. He developed large bowel dilatation and perforation of the mid-transverse colon, and underwent laparotomy and colonic resection. Histopathology of the resected bowel specimen showed acute inflammation, necrosis, and hemorrhage, supporting a role for COVID-19-induced micro-thrombosis leading to perforation. The second patient was a 33-year-old man who had severe COVID-19 pneumonia, renal failure, and acute pancreatitis. His hospital course was complicated with paralytic ileus, and he improved with conservative management. Both cases were observed to have elevated liver transaminases, which is consistent with other studies. Several authors have postulated that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, the host receptors for COVID-19, that are present on enterocytes in both the small and large bowel might mediate viral entry and resultant inflammation. This is a potential mechanism of paralytic ileus in cases of severe COVID-19 infection. Recognizing paralytic ileus as a possible complication necessitates timely diagnosis and management.

COVID-19 presenting as acute pancreatitis.

The ongoing pandemic of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has spread over 200 countries worldwide, affecting >2 million people and >120,000 deaths. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The most common symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, and fever. However, gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 are increasingly being recognized. Herein, we report a case of COVID-19 who presented with acute pancreatitis (AP) without any other risk factors.

Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) associated with severe acute pancreatitis: Case report on three family members.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Abdominal pain is one of the known symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019. Little is known about the development of acute pancreatitis as a complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. This case report describes the presentation of acute pancreatitis in two of three family members with severe COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Data were collected from three family members admitted with COVID-19 to the intensive care unit in March 2020. This study was reviewed and approved by the local data and ethics committee (31-1521-253). RESULTS: Two of the three family members were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis associated with SARS-CoV-2. Other causes of acute pancreatitis were excluded for both patients (including alcohol, biliary obstruction/gall stones, drugs, trauma, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercalcemia, and hypotension). CONCLUSIONS: These cases highlight acute pancreatitis as a complication associated with COVID-19 and underlines the importance of measuring pancreas-specific plasma amylase in patients with COVID-19 and abdominal pain.