Download This PaperCOVID-19 and Liver - Current Status
19 Pages Posted: 11 May 2020
Date Written: April 18, 2020
Abstract
The pandemic of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus2 (SARS CoV-2). Though, predominantly a respiratory virus, multiorgan involvement leading to mortality has been well documented. Liver involvement in COVID-19 is being greatly discussed at present. This article aims to highlight the various mechanisms of liver involvement in COVID-19. Liver injury in COVID-19 is likely to be due to various mechanisms like virus directly infiltrating hepatocytes (cytopathic effect), secondary causes like hypoxic injury, drugs and bystander hepatitis. It also stresses on the point that liver injury is directly proportional to the severity of the disease. Though predominantly a respiratory virus with droplet and contact transmission, faeco-oral transmission is also present. This review also focuses on the epidemiology, virology, immunopathogenesis, clinical features and the implications of various groups of chronic liver disease due to COVID-19 with the available literature so far. This review also aims to help in better understanding of the disease, thereby, improving the odds to control the disease, facilitate the development of drugs and vaccines which may allow us to further limit its progression. Finally this article also put forward some recommendations that can be followed in clinical practice.
Note: Funding: None.
Conflict of Interest: None.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, liver injury, faeco-oral transmission
JEL Classification: I10
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation