CLINICAL AND LABORATORY CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVER DAMAGE IN COVID-19

Abstract

Background. Having its multisystemic effect СOVID-19 leads to liver disfunction. Objective. To assess the functional state of the liver in patients with COVID-19 during the periods of circulation of different SARS-CoV 2 strains. Material and methods. The object of the study was 180 patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized at Grodno Regional Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: the 1st group (n=51) - those examined during the circulation of the Omicron strain (2022), the 2nd (n=129) – the patients who were treated over 2020-2021 (during the circulation of previous strains). The laboratory analysis included the assessment of biochemical and sonographic parameters. Results. In the first group, dyspeptic syndrome, hyperbilirubinemia and hypoalbuminemia were more often recorded. The patients of the second group had more pronounced manifestations of severe respiratory failure alongside with significantly more pronounced hyperenzymemia according to aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level. Conclusions. Hyperbilirubinemia and hypoalbuminemia, being significantly more common during the circulation of the Omicron strain, may be regarded as a manifestation of acute mixed-etiology reactive hepatitis. The predominance of hyperenzymemia due to AST during the circulation of other strains may be accounted for by the cytopathic effect of the virus and drug-induced liver damage.