Open AccessAcute pancreatitis and COVID-19: A literature review
Author(s) -
Tiago Sá,
Carlos Soares,
Mónica Rocha
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1948-9366
DOI - 10.4240/wjgs.v13.i6.574
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , acute pancreatitis , pancreatitis , surgery , general surgery , intensive care medicine , virology , disease , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and has caused more than 80 million infections and 1.7 million deaths worldwide. Although it is primarily a respiratory virus, SARS-CoV-2 also has extra-pulmonary effects. Pancreatic injury and cases of acute pancreatitis (AP) have been recognized and attributed to SARS-CoV-2, but the mechanisms of pancreatic injury are still a subject of debate. There is also controversy on whether SARS-CoV-2 can cause AP or if it is an epiphenomenon.