Publication Database

COVID-19:
a fatal case of acute liver failure associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pre-existing liver cirrhosis (2021)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Ihlow, Jana

Seelhoff, Alexander

Corman, Victor M.

Gruber, Achim D. (WE 12)

Dökel, Simon (WE 12)

Meinhardt, Jenny

Radbruch, Helena

Späth-Schwalbe, Ernst

Elezkurtaj, Sefer

Horst, David

Herbst, Hermann

Quelle

BMC infectious diseases

Bandzählung: 21

Heftzählung: 1

Seiten: Article number: 901

ISSN: 1471-2334

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-021-06605-7

DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06605-7

Pubmed: 34479499

Kontakt

Institut für Tierpathologie

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 15
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62450
pathologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Background:
The detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is challenging, particularly in post-mortem human tissues. However, there is increasing evidence for viral SARS-CoV-2 manifestation in non-respiratory tissues. In this context, it is a current matter of debate, whether SARS-CoV-2 shows hepatotropism.

Case presentation:
Here, we report a case of an 88-year-old women with massive SARS-CoV-2 viremia, severe jaundice and clinical signs of an acute hepatitis, who died within a few days from an acute liver failure without showing any clinical signs of pneumonia. Autopsy revealed a severe chronic and acute liver damage with bile duct infestation by SARS-CoV-2 that was accompanied by higher expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), Cathepsin L and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2).

Conclusion:
Our findings indicate an enhanced biliary susceptibility to viral infection with SARS-CoV-2, that might have resulted from pre-existing severe liver damage. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the differential diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated liver failure in the clinical setting of an inexplicable jaundice.