Changes in liver enzymes and association with prognosis in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective case–control study. Issue 7 (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaveisi-Zadeh, Farhad; Nikkho, Bahram; Khadem Erfan, Mohamaad Bagher; Amiri, Amir; Azizi, Ali; Mansouri, Nasrin; Tarlan, Mitra; Rostami-Far, Zahra
• Is Part Of: Journal of international medical research. Volume 50:Issue 7(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- COVID-19 -- liver enzyme -- liver disease -- liver injury -- case–control study; Medicine -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/03000605221110067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-0605

Abstract

Objective: COVID-19 has recently emerged as a serious threat to global health. This study examined the laboratory investigations of patients with COVID-19, with an emphasis on liver enzymes. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study was performed on patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Imam Reza Hospital, Iran from March 2020 to February 2021. Laboratory tests included a complete blood cell count, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio, and levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase. Patient survival was among the outcome measures investigated in association with laboratory findings. Results: We enrolled 77 patients with COVID-19 and 63 healthy controls. In comparison with the control group, patients with COVID-19 showed COVID-19 increased ALT, WBC, neutrophils, NLR, and PLR, and decreased platelet counts and lymphocytes. Conclusion: Although elevated levels of AST, NLR, PLR, and LMR were found in patients with COVID-19, they were not linked to mortality. Given the presence of AST in other tissues, the influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver should be interpreted with caution.