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Mohamed Hassan AS, Abo Gaziah SSA, Ezzelregal Awad HG, Hegab Abdelhady SM, Talaat Elkhafif NA, Hassan Mostafa NB. "Ultrastructural changes of platelets in COVID-19 and chronic viral hepatitis patients ". Ultrastruct Pathol 2024; 48:234-245. [PMID: 38619195 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2024.2342437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Platelet-viral interactions are evolving as a new concern. Coagulation disorder is a major consequence of the COVID-19 infection. In chronic hepatitis virus infections, defect in coagulation factors, thrombocytopenia and platelet function abnormalities are common. A SARS-CoV-2 infection on top of chronic viral hepatitis infection can be common in areas where viral hepatitis is endemic. Here, we investigate the platelet ultrastructural changes and estimate the serum platelet factor-4 (PF-4), ferritin, CRP, and D-dimer in COVID-19 patients (n = 60), COVID-19 patients with associated chronic viral hepatitis (n = 20), and healthy subjects (n = 20). Ultrastructural changes were demonstrated in all test groups, denoting platelet activation. In chronic viral hepatitis patients, Platelet ultrastrustural apoptotic changes were also seen. Significantly high levels of PF-4 were confirmed in moderate and severe COVID-19 patients (P.value <0.001), with a cut off value of 17 ng/ml for predicting disease severity. A positive correlation of PF-4 with the level of serum ferritin, CRP, and D-dimer (p value < 0.001) was noted, while negatively correlated with platelet count and platelet granule count (p value < 0.001). In our study, chronic viral hepatitis patients presented mild COVID-19 signs, and their PF-4 level was comparable with the subgroup of mild COVID-19 infection. The platelet's critical role in COVID-19 coagulopathy and chronic viral hepatitis is evidenced by the ultrastructural changes and the high levels of PF4. Moreover, a dual viral infection poses a substantial burden on the platelets, necessitating close monitoring of the patient's coagulation profile.
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Hu CY, Cui WS, Lei Y, Tang YW, Zhang YY, Su QM, Peng F, Zeng YF, Song JL, Luo CN, Zhou Y, Li XY, Zhao ZX. Comparison of Azvudine and Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir and Combined Use in Patients with COVID-19. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:7797-7808. [PMID: 38148771 PMCID: PMC10750493 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s433186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To compare the effectiveness of azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for the treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 576 patients with COVID-19, comprising 195 patients without antiviral therapy, 226 patients treated with azvudine, 114 patients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and 41 patients were treated with azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir concurrently. We compared their symptoms, mortality rates, and the length and cost of hospitalization. Results The incidence of symptoms was similar in patients treated with azvudine and in those treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. However, among patients experiencing weakness, the duration of weakness was significantly shorter in the azvudine group than in the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir group (P=0.029). Mortality did not differ significantly between the azvudine group and the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir group (18.14% vs.10.53%, P=0.068). Among "severe patients", the mortality rate was markedly lower in patients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir than in patients treated with azvudine (16.92% vs.32.17%, P=0.026). In patients with hepatic insufficiency, those treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir had substantially lower mortality than those treated with azvudine (15.09% vs.34.25%, P=0.016). In addition, patients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir had longer hospital stays (P=0.002) and higher hospital costs (P<0.001) than those receiving azvudine. Compared with patients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or azvudine alone, patients taking nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and azvudine concurrently had no significant improvement in survival (P>0.05), length of stay (P>0.05), or hospital costs (P>0.05). Conclusion Azvudine is recommended for patients with non-severe COVID-19 with weakness. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is recommended for patients with severe COVID-19, to reduce mortality, and it could be the best choice for patients with hepatic insufficiency. The concurrent use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and azvudine in patients with COVID-19 could be not recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Yi Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Shuai Cui
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Lei
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Wen Tang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan-Yan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qi-Min Su
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fang Peng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guang Zhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yun-Fei Zeng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia-Lin Song
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Na Luo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin-Yan Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhu-Xiang Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
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Luxenburger H, Thimme R. SARS-CoV-2 and the liver: clinical and immunological features in chronic liver disease. Gut 2023; 72:1783-1794. [PMID: 37316169 PMCID: PMC10423489 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect the liver in healthy individuals but also influences the course of COVID-19 in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). As described in healthy individuals, a strong SARS-CoV-2-specific adaptive immune response is important for the outcome of COVID-19, however, knowledge on the adaptive immune response in CLD is limited.Here, we review the clinical and immunological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals with CLD. Acute liver injury occurs in many cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may be induced by multiple factors, such as cytokines, direct viral infection or toxic effects of COVID-19 drugs. In individuals with CLD, SARS-CoV-2 infection may have a more severe course and promote decompensation and particularly in patients with cirrhosis. Compared with healthy individuals, the SARS-CoV-2-specific adaptive immune responses is impaired in patients with CLD after both, natural infection and vaccination but improves at least partially after booster vaccination.Following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, rare cases of acute vaccine-induced liver injury and the development of autoimmune-like hepatitis have been reported. However, the concomitant elevation of liver enzymes is reversible under steroid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Luxenburger
- Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases), Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases), Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Guo Y, Zeng X, Li L, Wang L. The impact of HBV infection on clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemiol Infect 2023; 151:e135. [PMID: 37381822 PMCID: PMC10540167 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268823000705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unclear. The aim of this study is to explore this impact. For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CKNI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wan Fang database for articles between 1 January 2020 and 1 February 2023. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment to evaluate the study's quality. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed utilising the rates of severe/critical illness and death in COVID-19 patients with and without HBV infection. Eighteen studies with a total of 40,502 participants met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that compared to those without HBV infection, COVID-19 patients with HBV were at increased risk of mortality (OR = 1.65, I2 = 58%, and 95% CI 1.08-2.53) and severity (OR = 1.90, I2 = 44%, and 95% CI 1.62-2.24). The region and gender may influence the outcomes of COVID-19 patients with HBV infection, but it requires more global data to confirm. In conclusion, HBV infection is significantly linked to an increased risk of severity and mortality in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Guo
- Emergency Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueling Zeng
- Emergency Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- Emergency Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Linghang Wang
- Emergency Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Vujčić I. Outcomes of COVID-19 among patients with liver disease. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:815-824. [PMID: 36816621 PMCID: PMC9932431 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i5.815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a respiratory disease with multi-organ involvement, including impaired liver function. It has been noticed that a significant proportion of COVID-19 patients have liver dysfunction, especially those with a more severe disease course. The coronavirus causes direct damage to the liver using the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, a cell-surface receptor for cellular entry, that is expressed in the liver. According to previous research, liver enzyme abnormalities were observed in a considerable proportion of COVID-19 patients, and elevated liver transaminases were found in about 20% of these patients, alkaline phosphatase in 6.1%, and gamma-glutamyl transferase in 21.1%. COVID-19 might trigger a deterioration of liver function in patients with pre-existing chronic liver diseases (CLDs) and also in those without previous liver disorders. The majority of COVID-19 patients who develop liver injury are men, the elderly, and those with a higher body mass index. Compared to the general population, COVID-19 is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients with liver disease (cirrhosis and liver transplantation recipients). However, some studies indicate that CLDs have a lesser role in determining patient progression towards higher disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidora Vujčić
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
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Xu J, Wang Y, Feng H, Liu F, Yang H. HBV/HCV Infection Was Not Significantly Independently Associated with COVID-19 Severity: A Meta-Analysis of Confounding Variables-Adjusted Data. Dig Dis Sci 2022; 68:2161-2163. [PMID: 36562890 PMCID: PMC9782272 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-022-07799-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001 China
| | - Yujia Wang
- School of Nursing, Hebi Polytechnic, Hebi, 458030 China
| | - Huifen Feng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001 China
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001 China
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Schinas G, Polyzou E, Mitropetrou F, Pazionis A, Gogos C, Triantos C, Akinosoglou K. COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122778. [PMID: 36560782 PMCID: PMC9785164 DOI: 10.3390/v14122778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has become a central public health issue, primarily for vulnerable populations such as individuals with Chronic Liver Disease (CLD). Increased COVID-19-related mortality and disease severity has been noted in this subgroup of patients. Severe COVID-19 tends to further deregulate liver function in patients with chronic liver failure or cirrhosis and even reactivate hepatitis in people living with HBV or HCV. In addition, impaired hepatic function leads to several limitations in possible therapeutic interventions. Chronic hepatic dysregulation, along with the underlying cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID), leads to a decreased immune response to vaccination that, in turn, may result in reduced efficacy rates and lowered lasting protection. According to current guidelines, timely vaccination and frequent booster shot administration are deemed necessary in this context. Vaccination-related adverse events are mostly mild in nature and similar to those reported in the general population, whereas the incidence of liver injury following vaccination is relatively rare. We aimed to review available evidence and recommendations associated with COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease, and provide insight to current issues and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Schinas
- Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | - Eleni Polyzou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | | | | | - Charalambos Gogos
- Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | - Christos Triantos
- Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +30-6972894651
| | - Karolina Akinosoglou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
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