Elevated liver enzymes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Singapore.
Medicine (Baltimore)
; 100(30): e26719, 2021 Jul 30.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34397705
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Liver dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has been described. However, it is not clear if the presence of abnormal liver function tests at presentation was related to underlying undiagnosed liver disease, or a result of the viral infection.We retrospectively examined the first 554 consecutive polymerase chain reaction positive SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted from February 2020 to April 2020 to our academic medical centre. We reviewed their clinical data, chest radiography and laboratory studies obtained within 24âhour of admission.Despite similar hemodynamic parameters, we found significant aspartate transaminase elevation (64â±â141 vs 35â±â23âU/L, Pâ<â.001) in those with pneumonia compared to those without. Elevated liver enzymes were seen in 102 patients (18.4%). They presented with higher temperatures (38.5â±â0.9 vs 37.5â±â0.8 degC, Pâ=â.011), higher total white cell counts (6.95â±â2.29 vs 6.39â±â2.19âx109/L, Pâ=â.021), serum ferritin (240â±â274 vs 165â±â198âng/ml, Pâ=â.002) and lactate dehydrogenase (632â±â912 vs 389â±â107âU/L, Pâ<â.001). These patients were more likely to require intensive care (6.9% vs 2.7% Pâ=â.036) and mechanical ventilation (5.9% vs 2.2%, Pâ=â.046). Migrant workers from dormitories had a higher rate of baseline liver function test abnormalities (88/425 vs 14/129, Pâ=â.01), which were more likely to persist at the time of discharge.Despite relatively mild COVID-19 disease, there was a significant prevalence of liver dysfunction, particularly amongst migrant workers. Elevated liver enzymes were associated with more severe disease, despite similar haemodynamic characteristics. Future studies should explore whether pre-existing liver disease may predispose to more severe COVID-19 disease.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Aspartate Aminotransferases
/
COVID-19
/
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
/
Liver Diseases
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Medicine (Baltimore)
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: