COVID-19: a fatal case of acute liver failure associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pre-existing liver cirrhosis.
BMC Infect Dis
; 21(1): 901, 2021 Sep 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1455938
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is challenging, particularly in post-mortem human tissues. However, there is increasing evidence for viral SARS-CoV-2 manifestation in non-respiratory tissues. In this context, it is a current matter of debate, whether SARS-CoV-2 shows hepatotropism. CASE PRESENTATION Here, we report a case of an 88-year-old women with massive SARS-CoV-2 viremia, severe jaundice and clinical signs of an acute hepatitis, who died within a few days from an acute liver failure without showing any clinical signs of pneumonia. Autopsy revealed a severe chronic and acute liver damage with bile duct infestation by SARS-CoV-2 that was accompanied by higher expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), Cathepsin L and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2).CONCLUSION:
Our findings indicate an enhanced biliary susceptibility to viral infection with SARS-CoV-2, that might have resulted from pre-existing severe liver damage. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the differential diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated liver failure in the clinical setting of an inexplicable jaundice.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Liver Failure, Acute
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Case report
/
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Infect Dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12879-021-06605-7
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