CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ann Natl Acad Med Sci 2020; 56(02): 091-098
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713837
Review Article

Gastrointestinal and Liver Manifestations of COVID-19

Sunil Taneja
1   Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Rohit Mehtani
1   Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Yogesh Kumar Chawla
2   Department of Gastroenterology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhuvneshwar, India
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

A novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 illness, has spread throughout the world after the first case was reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019. This illness typically causes respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath, although atypical presentation with gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea are being increasingly reported. The viral RNA has been detected in saliva and stool of such patients, which raises concerns regarding the risk of transmission during gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. Many patients also have liver involvement, with the most common manifestation being deranged liver function tests. This review highlights the symptomatology, mechanism, and histopathology findings of SARS-CoV-2 in GI tract and liver. This review also focuses on implications of COVID-19 in patients afflicted with chronic liver disease and in patients undergoing liver transplantation.



Publication History

Article published online:
30 June 2020

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Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
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