EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON LIVER FUNCTION TESTS;RESULT FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the changes in liver function tests if any in patients of COVID-19 Study Design: Cross sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from Apr 2020 to Jun 2020 Methodology: A total of 209 confirmed cases of COVID-19 positive by RT-PCR patients presenting to Combined Military Hospital, Lahore were included in the study Their demographic details were recorded Patients were grouped into mild-moderate and severe disease groups according to the symptoms, complications and oxygen or ventilation requirements Liver function tests of all these patients were advised Results: Amongst confirmed COVID-19 patients, 187 (89 5%) had mild to moderate disease whereas 22 patients (10 5%) had severe disease Liver test abnormalities were defined as the elevation of the following liver enzymes in serum: ALT 42 U/L, AST 45 U/L, GGT 49 U/L, ALP 300 U/L, albumin35g/L and total bilirubin (TBIL) 17 1 In LFTs, Bilirubin was increased in 20 (9 6%) patients), ALT in 32 (15 3%) patients, of which 8 had severe disease, 38 patients having high AST levels (45) 28 had mild-moderate disease and 10 had severe disease ALP was raised in 24 (11 5%) patients with 8 being in severe disease and rest in mild moderate disease Albumin was low in 35 (16 7%) patients of which 12 had severe disease and 23 had mild-moderate disease Conclusion: About 15-20% of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 have deranged liver function tests and it correlates with severity of the disease