Recommended Citation
Mishra K, Naffouj S, Gorgis S, Ibrahim H, Gill S, Fadel R, Chatfield A, Tang A, and Salgia R. Liver Injury as a Surrogate for Inflammation and Predictor of Outcomes in COVID-19. Hepatol Commun 2021; 5(1):24-32.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Publication Title
Hepatol Commun
Abstract
Respiratory failure is the most common cause of death in patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There have been many investigations to determine predictors of bad outcomes in patients with this illness. Liver enzyme elevation has been described in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19; however, little is known about the significance of liver injury regarding outcomes. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 348 patients admitted with COVID-19 in our quaternary care center. Liver injury on admission was defined based on the laboratory cutoff of aspartate aminotransferase >35 IU/L and/or alanine aminotransferase >52 IU/L. Patients were divided into two cohorts based on the presence or absence of liver injury. These cohorts were compared to assess differences in presentation, complications, and outcomes. The primary outcome was respiratory failure requiring intubation, and the secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The presence of new onset liver enzyme elevation on presentation was associated with increased severity of illness, need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Presence of liver injury increased the chance of acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation by 1.79 times. The degree and timeline of liver enzyme elevation during hospitalization corresponded with elevations of other inflammatory markers.
PubMed ID
33437898
Volume
5
Issue
1
First Page
24
Last Page
32
