Open AccessKinetic patterns of liver enzyme elevation with COVID-19 in the USA
Author(s) -
Ben L. Da,
Robert A. Mitchell,
Brian T. Lee,
Ponni V. Perumalswami,
Gene Y. Im,
Ritu Agarwal,
Thomas D. Schiano,
Douglas T. Dieterich,
Behnam Saberi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.881
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1473-5687
pISSN - 0954-691X
DOI - 10.1097/meg.0000000000001792
Subject(s) - medicine , lactate dehydrogenase , ferritin , covid-19 , enzyme , liver enzyme , liver injury , alanine aminotransferase , enzyme assay , gastroenterology , clinical significance , pathology , physiology , biochemistry , biology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
COVID-19 is a global pandemic that started in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 related liver enzyme elevations have been described however the clinical presentation, enzyme kinetics, and associated laboratory abnormalities of these patients have not been well described. Five cases of COVID-19 associated liver enzyme elevations are reported here. We found that COVID-19 related liver enzyme elevations occurred in a hepatocellular pattern and persisted throughout the initial hospitalization in all patients. Abnormalities in lactate dehydrogenase and ferritin levels were seen in all five cases. In conclusion, abnormalities in aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and ferritin levels are commonly seen in COVID-19 related liver injury. Elevated aminotransferase levels often persist throughout the entire hospitalization. However, the clinical course of COVID-19 related liver injury appears benign.