COVID-19 in Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Transplantation: A Clinical Review

J Clin Gastroenterol. 2021 Mar 1;55(3):187-194. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001481.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought challenges to clinicians caring for patients with chronic liver disease. In the past 6 months, COVID-19 has led to over 150,000 deaths in the United States and over 660,000 deaths around the world. Mounting evidence suggests that chronic liver diseases can have an adverse effect on the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. We present a comprehensive review of the latest literature on preexisting liver diseases and its interrelationship with COVID-19 infection in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and viral hepatitis B. As social distancing and telemedicine gain new footing, we synthesize recommendations from 3 major hepatology societies [American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL), and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver (APASL)] to present the best approaches for caring for patients with liver diseases as well as those requiring liver transplantation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • COVID-19 / therapy*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Health Status
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Liver / surgery*
  • Liver / virology
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases / mortality
  • Liver Diseases / surgery*
  • Liver Diseases / virology
  • Liver Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Liver Transplantation* / mortality
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents