Cytokine-induced liver injury in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19): untangling the knots.
Publication Date
2021
Journal Title
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
Abstract
Liver dysfunction manifesting as elevated aminotransferase levels has been a common feature of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. The mechanism of liver injury in COVID-19 infection is unclear. However, it has been hypothesized to be a result of direct cytopathic effects of the virus, immune dysfunction and cytokine storm-related multiorgan damage, hypoxia-reperfusion injury and idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury due to medications used in the management of COVID-19. The favored hypothesis regarding the pathophysiology of liver injury in the setting of COVID-19 is cytokine storm, an aberrant and unabated inflammatory response leading to hyperproduction of cytokines. In the current review, we have summarized the potential pathophysiologic mechanisms of cytokine-induced liver injury based on the reported literature.
Document Type
Article
Status
Faculty
Facility
School of Medicine
Primary Department
Hepatology
Additional Departments
Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine; COVID-19 Publications
PMID
DOI
10.1097/meg.0000000000002034