Principles of Care for Patients with Liver Disease During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: Position Statement of the Saudi Association for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation

Ann Saudi Med. 2020 Jul-Aug;40(4):273-280. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2020.273. Epub 2020 Aug 6.

Abstract

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified in patients in Wuhan, China. The virus, subsequently named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, spread worldwide and the disease (coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Older adults and individuals with comorbidities have been reported as being more vulnerable to COVID-19. Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) have compromised immune function due to cirrhosis and are more susceptible to infection. However, it is unclear if patients with CLD are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and its complications than other populations. The high number of severe cases of COVID-19 has placed an unusual burden on health systems, compromising their capacity to provide the regular care that patients with CLD require. Hence, it is incredibly crucial at this juncture to provide a set of interim recommendations on the management of patients with CLD during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Monophosphate / adverse effects
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / analogs & derivatives
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
  • Alanine / adverse effects
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Amides / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Azetidines / adverse effects
  • Betacoronavirus
  • Biopsy / methods
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Interactions
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / therapy
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Liver Cirrhosis / epidemiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / therapy
  • Liver Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Liver Diseases / therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Lopinavir / adverse effects
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / epidemiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / therapy
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
  • Purines
  • Pyrazines / adverse effects
  • Pyrazoles
  • Ritonavir / adverse effects
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Sulfonamides / adverse effects
  • Ultrasonography / methods

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Amides
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Azetidines
  • Drug Combinations
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors
  • Purines
  • Pyrazines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Sulfonamides
  • lopinavir-ritonavir drug combination
  • Lopinavir
  • remdesivir
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • favipiravir
  • baricitinib
  • Ritonavir
  • Alanine

Grants and funding

None.