Abstracts of the 2021 Annual meeting of the ALEH (Asociación Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Hígado)
More infoLiver abnormalities are frequent in COVID-19 disease, AST and ALT abnormalities are present in about 60% of serious disease patients. However, liver insufficiency and liver mortality were not important concerns. Decompensate cirrhotic patients are a group of high risk for morbidity and mortality. Consequently, we aimed to study cirrhotic patients with at least one complication: ascites, encephalopathy or esophageal varices; to investigate mortality, transplantation and hospitalization due to SARS-Covid-19 infection pandemic.
MethodsLiver unit patients were enrolled after ethical approval and signed consentiment term. Combined outcomes during pandemic were analyzed. Participants were submitted to SARS-Cov 2 test by PCR oro/pharingeal swab. Call phone and medical records were consulted for covid 19 symptoms and outcomes. Survival, transplantation and clinical complications were studied.
ResultsFourthy seven patients were enrolled, 26 followed. Men was 73% of patients and median age was 62,7 years. The cirrhosis etiology in 35% was MAFLD, 32% alcohol, 15% HCV and 18% others. Frequence of COVID-19 infection was 42%, at last 10 months, and three (11%) patients died. Liver-related complications with death were present in 19% of patients without COVID-19 infection. Five patients (19%) were submitted to liver transplantation, without COVID-19 disease.
ConclusionAlthough an incipient analyzes, our data show high death rate of cirrhotic decompensate patients during COVID-19 pandemic. This population needs a specific approach in order to prevent Covid-19 infection, liver-related mortality and complications during pandemic.