Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and the Liver

Emerging mechanistic insights of selective autophagy in hepatic diseases

Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy), a highly conserved metabolic process, regulates cellular homeostasis by degrading dysfunctional cytosolic constituents and invading pathogens via the lysosomal system. In addition, autophagy selectively recycles specific organelles such as damaged mitochondria (via mitophagy), and lipid droplets (LDs; via lipophagy) or eliminates specialized intracellular pathogenic microorganisms such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and coronaviruses (via virophagy). Selective autophagy, particularly mitophagy, plays a key role in the preservation of healthy liver physiology, and its dysfunction is connected to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of liver diseases. For example, lipophagy has emerged as a defensive mechanism against chronic liver diseases. There is a prominent role for mitophagy and lipophagy in hepatic pathologies including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and drug-induced liver injury. Moreover, these selective autophagy pathways including virophagy are being investigated in the context of viral hepatitis and, more recently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated hepatic pathologies. The interplay between diverse types of selective autophagy and its impact on liver diseases is briefly addressed. Thus, modulating selective autophagy (e.g., mitophagy) would seem to be effective in improving liver diseases. Considering the prominence of selective autophagy in liver physiology, this review summarizes the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms and functions of selective autophagy (mainly mitophagy and lipophagy) in liver physiology and pathophysiology. This may help in finding therapeutic interventions targeting hepatic diseases via manipulation of selective autophagy.

COVID-19-induced transaminitis and hyperbilirubinemia: Presentation and outcomes

The risk of liver injury in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is quite evident. Furthermore, liver function test abnormalities are still detected in COVID-19 patients despite the development of antivirals and the availability of several types of vaccines. This editorial describes liver involvement during COVID-19 infection in patients with or without preexisting liver injury, such as chronic liver disease, to elucidate COVID-19-induced liver function abnormalities and their severity, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and clinical and laboratory outcomes. We also discuss the effect of vaccination against COVID-19 to better understand host factors, such as age, gender, and race, on the incidence and severity of liver dysfunction at initial presentation and during the illness. Finally, we summarize the results of relevant meta-analyses published to date and highlight the importance of adequate liver function monitoring in the current climate of the overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccinations in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Transplant Recipients: An Update

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a current global pandemic associated with an increased mortality, particularly in patients with comorbidities. Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and liver transplant (LT) recipients are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Many liver societies have recommended that these patients should receive COVID-19 vaccinations, although there are limited studies assessing risks and benefits in this population. In addition, two doses of mRNA vaccines may not provide sufficient immune response, and booster dose(s) may be necessary, especially in LT recipients. Notably, variants of concern have recently emerged, and it remains unclear whether currently available vaccines provide adequate and durable protective immunity against these novel variants. This review focuses on the role of COVID-19 vaccinations in CLD and LT recipients.

Predictors of in-hospital Outcomes in Patients With Cirrhosis and Coronavirus Disease-2019

Background

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases continue to increase globally. Poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and cirrhosis have been reported; predictors of outcome are unclear. The existing data is from the early part of the pandemic when variants of concern (VOC) were not reported.

Aims

We aimed to assess the outcomes and predictors in patients with cirrhosis and COVID-19. We also compared the differences in outcomes between the first wave of pandemic and the second wave.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database, data on consecutive cirrhosis patients (n = 221) admitted to the COVID-19 care facility of a tertiary care center in India were evaluated for presentation, the severity of liver disease, the severity of COVID-19, and outcomes.

Results

The clinical presentation included: 18 (8.1%) patients had compensated cirrhosis, 139 (62.9%) acute decompensation (AD), and 64 (29.0%) had an acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Patients with ACLF had more severe COVID-19 infection than those with compensated cirrhosis and AD (54.7% vs. 16.5% and 33.3%, P < 0.001). The overall mortality was 90 (40.7%), the highest among ACLF (72.0%). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of mortality were high leukocyte count, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, child class, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and COVID-19 severity. The second wave had more cases of severe COVID-19 as compared to the first wave, with a similar MELD score and Child score. The overall mortality was similar between the two waves.

Conclusion

Patients with COVID-19 and cirrhosis have high mortality (40%), particularly those with ACLF (72%). A higher leukocyte count, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, Child class, and MELD score are predictors of mortality.

The COVID-19 pandemic - what have urologists learned?

On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic and COVID-19 emerged as one of the biggest challenges in public health and economy in the twenty-first century. The respiratory tract has been the centre of attention, but COVID-19-associated complications affecting the genitourinary tract are reported frequently, raising concerns about possible long-term damage in these organs. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which has a central role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion, is highly expressed in the genitourinary tract, indicating that these organs could be at a high risk of cell damage. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in urine and semen is very rare; however, COVID-19 can manifest through urological symptoms and complications, including acute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with poor survival, severe structural changes in testes and impairment of spermatogenesis, and hormonal imbalances (mostly secondary hypogonadism). The effect of altered total testosterone levels or androgen deprivation therapy on survival of patients with COVID-19 was intensively debated at the beginning of the pandemic; however, androgen inhibition did not show any effect in preventing or treating COVID-19 in a clinical study. Thus, urologists have a crucial role in detecting and managing damage of the genitourinary tract caused by COVID-19.

A Physiological Study to Evaluate Liver Function in Male and Female Patients Infected with COVID-19 Virus in Najaf City

COVID-19 infection usually causes respiratory distress syndrome. Liver impairment has been reported, there is no clear mechanism for liver damage. Liver damage may be due to other factors, such as a viral infection or inflammations in the liver. Lack of information among the residents of the city of Najaf about the differences between males and females infected with the “Corona Virus” disease (“Covid-19”). In this study, we focus on the effects of (“COVID-19”) on liver physiology in 60 (“COVID-19”) patients (20-70 years old). Examinations, taking into account demographic information as well as clinical findings, show that the patient has liver abnormalities. The result indicated increasing of  liver enzymes ALT,AST,ALP and TBiL levels on patients with covid-19 Corona Virus.Males patients had a higher risk of liver enzymes level elevation than females. ("TBiL") concentrations were highly increased when compared with control.  In critical patients, severe liver cells abnormalities result from ("COVID-19"), which requires follow-up and immediate therapeutic intervention. Because of its strong relationship with the severity of  the injury in ("COVID-19"), ALT,AST,ALP, and TBiL it is expected to be of great importance in the future prediction and diagnosis of infection.

The Outcome in Cirrhosis after Hospital Discharge is Not Worsened with COVID-19 Infection: A Propensity Score-matched Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with cirrhosis and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have high in-hospital mortality. The information on the outcome of cirrhosis patients in the posthospitalization period is limited.

AIMS

We aimed to study the outcome of cirrhosis patients with COVID-19 after hospital discharge.

METHODS

The records of the cirrhosis patients discharged after COVID-19 were reviewed. Their data were compared with a similar number of cirrhosis patients without COVID-19 after propensity score matching for age, sex, etiology of cirrhosis, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score.

RESULTS

Cirrhosis patients with (n = 92) or without (n = 92) COVID-19 were included in 1:1 ratio. The mortality among COVID-19 (22; 23.9%) and non-COVID-19 (19; 20.7%) were comparable (HR 1.224; 95% CI 0.663-2.263, P = 0.520), over a similar duration of follow-up [186 (86-271) vs. 183 (103-274)]. Among COVID-19 patients, 45; 48.9% developed a new acute decompensation-increased ascites (40; 43.5%), hepatic encephalopathy (20; 21.7%), or variceal bleeding (8; 8.7%) whereas 25 (27.2%) patients needed rehospitalization. A proportion of participants continued to have either fatigue/weakness (24/80; 30.0%), sleep disturbances (11/80; 13.7%), or joint pains (16/80; 20.0%). The most common causes of death in patients of both groups were end-stage liver disease: 16 (72.7%) vs. 9 (47.4%), followed by multiorgan dysfunction: 4 (18.2%) vs. 6 (31.6%), GI bleeding: 2 (9.1%) vs. 4 (21.0%), P = 0.484. A lower albumin level, higher international normalized ratio, bilirubin, Child-Turcotte-Pugh, and MELD scores at discharge predicted mortality in the COVID-19 group.

CONCLUSION

Short-term outcomes of patients with cirrhosis who survive the initial insult of COVID-19 are not different from patients without COVID-19, and survival is determined by the severity of liver disease at discharge.

Covid-19 and Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Indian Patients: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

India has the second highest number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the world after the USA with 29.3 million cases reported so far. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients with special emphasis on Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations.

METHODS

In this meta-analysis, we conducted a systematic review of high-quality articles on confirmed COVID-19 cases in India published in PubMed and Google Scholar between February 2020 and March 2021. Statistical descriptive analysis and correlation analyses of symptoms, comorbidities and outcomes were performed.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 46.16 years. Of these, 67.53% were males. Overall, 6.4% patients died. Cough (37.79%) was the most common presenting symptom followed by fever (35.5%), nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea (23.60%) but, these symptoms were unrelated to outcome. Patients with shortness of breath (r = 0.69, p = 0.03) and fatigue/weakness (r = 0.95, p = 0.04) had high mortality. Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus were the most common comorbidities but were not associated with negative outcome. Preexisting chronic kidney disease (r = 0.80, p = 0.01), mechanical ventilation (r = 0.895, p = 0.003) and ICU admission (r = 0.845, p = 0.008) correlated with poor outcome. GI symptoms were reported in 12.05% of the patients. Nausea and vomiting were the most prevalent GI symptoms, but diarrhea (r = 0.95, p = 0.004) was associated with significant mortality.

CONCLUSION

Overall, COVID-19 patients in India present with cough, fever, shortness of breath and fatigue as the main symptoms. Among GI symptoms, diarrhea was associated with fatal outcomes. However, more high-quality studies are needed for better understanding of the GI manifestations and their outcomes in the Indian population.

Covid-19 laryngectomized patients care, on field experience, and considerations

Laryngectomized patients showed an unconventional response to SARS‐CoV‐2 viral infection. Here, we describe five different patient cases along with our interpretation of the phenomena and suggestions for their safe management.