Liver abnormalities in patients with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the liver function abnormalities in COVID 19 patients and study possible correlation of liver function tests with severity of disease. Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, we recruited 185 hospitalized patients with COVID 19. The diagnosis of COVID 19 was made on the basis of a positive RT-PCR report. Their clinical characteristics and the laboratory parameters were recorded in a proforma. Results: The mean age of patients was 52.7 + 16.2 years (66 females), 66 (34.2%) of whom were of age more than 60 years. Based on the clinical criteria 70.4%, 20.9% and 8% patients had mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 infection, respectively. The mean haemoglobin was 12.4 + 2.1 g/dL. 57.8% patients had elevated levels of either alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST). 35.1% had an elevation of ALT and 32.4% had an elevation in both ALT and AST. Serum bilirubin was elevated in 10.6% and 48.9% had low serum albumin. While a correlation was observed between low albumin and severity of COVID-19, there was no correlation between severity of COVID-19 and hypertransaminasemia. Conclusion: One third of patients with COVID-19 had raised transaminases and half of them had low albumin. There was a correlation between low albumin and severity of COVID 19 infection.