Clinical Manifestations of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients: An Integrative Review.

After the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, its spread to other countries is rapidly increasing. In this integrative review, we report the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with COVID-19. For this purpose, available articles on gastrointestinal manifestations in patients with COVID-19, which were reported from China, were reviewed. All reviewed articles were searched from December 11, 2019, to June 20, 2020, based on specific key words. Related findings in these articles show that the main target of COVID-19 is lung tissue, as after the virus enters the body, it mainly causes respiratory symptoms in affected patients. But in addition to respiratory symptoms, it is possible that, over time, these patients present with other symptoms, the most obvious of which are gastrointestinal symptoms. It is well documented that diarrhea and vomiting are the most common gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients. As part of this report, we also look at the incidence and frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients in Iran. The results can be used by providers as a guideline for better management of gastrointestinal symptoms in these patients.

Hepatic Involvement as Hyperbilirubinemia in Patients with COVID-19: Case Series from Iran.

BACKGROUND: After the spread of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from Wuhan to Iran, gastroenterology clinics, was faced with a large number of patients who were suspected of being infected with the SARS-CoV-2. Among refereed patient, the incidence of pure hyperbilirubinemia as rare gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms was obvious. METHODS: In this case series, we have reported the clinical data in details for patients with COVID-19 who have been admitted to the Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qom city, from 3 March to 3 August 2020. COVID infection, be confirmed by using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and chest computed tomography (CT) scan, as well. RESULTS: According to the clinical findings, pure hyperbilirubinemia may consider as rare gastrointestinal (GI) symptom of COVID-19. However, it is possible that the other GI enzymes values fall in to the normal range. CONCLUSION: In some infected patients, GI physicians may face hepatic involvement as pure hyperbilirubinemia. At the age of COVID-19 crisis, all GI physicians should be aware of the possible occurrence of hepatic involvement as an important prognosis of COVID pneumonia and it should be exactly addressed in new referred patients to GI clinic.

Dysentery as a rare GI symptom found in COVID-19 patients / La disentería como síntoma digestivo poco frecuente que se encuentra en los pacientes con COVID-19

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Clinical Manifestation of Patients Who Died Due to COVID-19; A Retrospective Study from Qom-Iran.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic health problem worldwide. In this study, we attempted to explain the clinical and laboratories characteristics of non-surviving patients, to identify the probable factors affecting disease progression. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we assessed the data from dead adult patients who were hospitalized and laboratory diagnosed with COVID-19 during March 2020. The data were obtained from electronic medical records. Moreover, a checklist including demographic, clinical, laboratorial, imaging, and treatment data was completed for each one of the patients. In case of lack of information, a member of the research team contacted the first-degree relatives via phone. RESULTS: Totally, 50 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 68.0 ± 14.1 years. Of them, 29 (58%) patients were male. Notably, the median (IQR) hospitalization time was 4.0 (2.7-6.2) days and the duration between the first symptoms to death was 10.0 (5.0-14.5) days. Also, pre-existing morbidity was reported in 42 (84%) patients, and hypertension was the most common one with 28 (54%) patients. Interestingly, body temperature more than 37.5°C was reported in only 20 (40%) patients. Nevertheless, neutrophilia (≥7109/L) and lymphopenia (<1.0 109/L) were observed in 27 (54%) and 29 (58%) patients, respectively. Also, elevated levels of creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were common, which may be indicators of aggravation of the patients' status. CONCLUSION: Besides age and underlying diseases, elevated creatinine level, neutrophil count, and the inflammatory indices along with the reduced lymphocyte count can be considered as indicators of disease progression. Hence, they should be considered for admission and surveillance of patients.

Comparison between Brush Cytology and Forceps Biopsy under Fluoroscopic Guidance for the Diagnosis of Proximal Cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common malignant liver cancer. Its early diagnosis plays an important role in the success of treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the use of cold forceps biopsy without cholangioscopy with brush cytology in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS In this prospective study, we enrolled 19 patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed for all individuals. Sampling was performed from the narrowing site using the brush method. Then, a cold forceps biopsy was performed under fluoroscopy. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 63.31 ± 11.12 years and most of them were men (63.16 %). The brush cytology and the cold forceps biopsy diagnosed 31.85% and 68.42% of the samples as cholangiocarcinoma, respectively. According to the McNemar test, there was a statistically significant difference between the diagnostic results of the brush cytology and cold forceps biopsy. So that more cholangiocarcinoma cases were diagnosed using forceps biopsy (p = 0.016). No complications such as perforation, bleeding, cholangitis, and leakage were reported during the cold forceps procedure. CONCLUSION Cold forceps biopsy under fluoroscopy is better than cytology brush in the diagnosis of proximal cholangiocarcinoma. It is recommended to be used as a low-cost alternative in cases where cholangioscopy is not available.