Liver function test pattern as a means for predicting Covid-19 pneumonia related severity

ABSTRACT

Objectives: After being declared a pandemic, SARS CoV-2 causing Covid-19 pneumonia has been rampant in affecting the world population and causing heightened morbidity & mortality across all age groups. SARS CoV-2 was found to affect many organs systems of the human body, from lungs to brain, kidneys, coagulation system & also involving gastrointestinal system & liver respectively. It exerts effects on the liver via complex incompletely understood processes including, directly utilizing ACE-II receptors & mitochondrial protein complexes and indirectly via exaggerating the immune response via cytokine storm and drug effects, to include a few. We have conducted our research to see the prevalence of liver function (LFT). derangement, its pattern of derangement, and the association of LFT pattern to the severity of. Covid-19 pneumonia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, consecutive data analysis was conducted at Dow University hospital & OICD. All patients above 18 years of age with positive rRT-PCR on the nasal swab for Covid-19, admitted at our institute were enrolled after excluding patients with previous liver disease. Patients' demographic, co-morbidities, addictions, laboratory, and baseline data were collected from electronic & paper records. The severity of Covid-19 was defined by WHO protocols. Results: Mixed and cholestatic pattern of liver function derangement is prevalent in patients with Covid-19 pneumonia, whereas mixed pattern derangement of LFT is associated with the development of Severe Covid-19 pneumonia along with higher age of patient population and presence of hypertension are risk factors for developing severe covid-9 pneumonia. However, individually deranged AST is statistically associated with the development of severe covid-19. pneumonia. Conclusion: Liver function derangement seems to be an integral part of widespread abnormalities occurring in Covid-19 pneumonia affected patients, which ought to be overlooked. Moreover, mixed pattern derangement with raised AST levels may aid in identifying patients needing watchful monitoring till the disease subsides.