High Serum Transaminase Due to COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

The liver can be damaged due to the virus's direct cytotoxic effect, immune-mediated damage, medication side effects, stasis due to myocardial damage, hypoxia, and ischemic damage due to hypoperfusion (6). The laboratory results were as follows: hemoglobin 14.3 g/dL, leukocytes 6.2 109/L, platelets 175 109/L (200-445 109), CRP 0.005 g/L (0-0.005), procalcitonin 0.04 pg/L, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 393 U/L (0-46), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 726 U/L (0-32), total bilirubin 0.5 mg/dL, direct bilirubin 0.2 mg/dL, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 548 U/L, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) 35 U/L. The biopsy, however, showed no virus particles. Since the patient had no known underlying disease, pathological findings in the liver were thought to be related to SARS-CoV-2 infection or the drugs used (11). According to reports, an increase in liver enzymes has no prognostic significance.