COVID-19 and liver disease

Abstract

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent that causes the disease called COVID-19, represents one of the greatest challenges to the infrastructure of health systems and public health in recent times [1, 2]. As of 1 June 2020, this pandemic has caused more than 300,000 deaths worldwide [3]. In Spain, the impact of COVID-19 is particularly serious, as it is, in Europe, the country with the third largest confirmed caseload, and, globally, the country with the fifth largest confirmed caseload, after the United States, Brazil, Russia and the United Kingdom [3]. In most cases, the disease follows a benign course; however, in others, the outcome may be fatal; its mortality rate in Spain is 11.1% [4]. The cause of death is usually acute respiratory failure secondary to diffuse alveolar damage; however, the liver may play a key role in two respects: as it may be affected by the infection itself or its treatment (or both) and owing to the possible implications of underlying chronic liver disease for the patient’s prognosis.