1. The role of liver steatosis as measured with transient elastography and transaminases on hard clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
- Author
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Campos-Varela I, Villagrasa A, Simon-Talero M, Riveiro-Barciela M, Ventura-Cots M, Aguilera-Castro L, Alvarez-Lopez P, Nordahl EA, Anton A, Bañares J, Barber C, Barreira-Diaz A, Biagetti B, Camps-Relats L, Ciudin A, Cocera R, Dopazo C, Fernandez A, Jimenez C, Jimenez MM, Jofra M, Gil C, Gomez-Gavara C, Guanozzi D, Guevara JA, Lobo B, Malagelada C, Martinez-Camprecios J, Mayorga L, Miret E, Pando E, Pérez-Lopez A, Pigrau M, Prio A, Rivera-Esteban JM, Romero A, Tasayco S, Vidal-Gonzalez J, Vidal L, Minguez B, Augustin S, and Genesca J
- Abstract
Liver injury has been widely described in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to study the effect of liver biochemistry alterations, previous liver disease, and the value of liver elastography on hard clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. We conducted a single-center prospective observational study in 370 consecutive patients admitted for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia. Clinical and laboratory data were collected at baseline and liver parameters and clinical events recorded during follow-up. Transient elastography [with Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) measurements] was performed at admission in 98 patients. All patients were followed up until day 28 or death. The two main outcomes of the study were 28-day mortality and the occurrence of the composite endpoint intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or death. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were elevated at admission in 130 patients (35%) and 167 (45%) patients, respectively. Overall, 14.6% of patients presented the composite endpoint ICU and/or death. Neither ALT elevations, prior liver disease, liver stiffness nor liver steatosis (assessed with CAP) had any effect on outcomes. However, patients with abnormal baseline AST had a higher occurrence of the composite ICU/death (21% versus 9.5%, p = 0.002). Patients ⩾65 years and with an AST level > 50 U/ml at admission had a significantly higher risk of ICU and/or death than those with AST ⩽ 50 U/ml (50% versus 13.3%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, mild liver damage is prevalent in COVID-19 patients, but neither ALT elevation nor liver steatosis influenced hard clinical outcomes. Elevated baseline AST is a strong predictor of hard outcomes, especially in patients ⩾65 years., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement: IC-V: Travel and conference grant from MSD, Astellas and Chiesi. SA: consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Ferrer, Gilead, Intercept, IQVIA, Novartis, Pfizer; speaking fees from Allergan, Gilead, MSD and Novartis; travel expenses from Gilead, MSD, Janssen, Genfit, Bayer and Ferring; grant support from Gilead., (© The Author(s), 2021.)
- Published
- 2021
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