Liver injury in COVID-19: Detection, pathogenesis, and treatment

World J Gastroenterol. 2021 Jun 14;27(22):3022-3036. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i22.3022.

Abstract

In the early December 2019, a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was first reported in Wuhan, China, followed by an outbreak that spread around the world. Numerous studies have shown that liver injury is common in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and may aggravate the severity of the disease. However, the exact cause and specific mechanism of COVID-associated liver injury needs to be elucidated further. In this review, we present an analysis of the clinical features, potential mechanisms, and treatment strategies for liver injury associated with COVID-19. We hope that this review would benefit clinicians in devising better strategies for management of such patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Clinical features; Liver injury; Potential mechanism; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • China / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2