Abstract
Objectives*
To assess long-term changes in liver stiffness and other multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) markers of liver damage in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection.
Materials and Methods
A cohort of patients with known previous COVID-19 infection of varying degrees of severity underwent two subsequent mpUS scans: first, within a period of 3 to 6 months after COVID-19, and then repeatedly 3 years later. Clinical and biochemical markers of liver damage were correlated with data gathered on mpUS, which included quantitative measurements of liver stiffness, dispersion and hepatic attenuation.
Results
58 patients were included in the study, of which 30 were men and 28 women. The patients’ mean age was 46.4 years (± SD 12.9). MpUS scans in the 3-to-6-month period revealed increased liver stiffness and steatosis (atten- uation) values. Repeated scans in the 3-year follow-up revealed differing paths of progression for parenchymal alterations: the median attenuation values increased from 0.56 to 0.60 dB/cm/MHz (p<0.001) and the mean stiff- ness values decreased from 5,09 to 4,60 kPa (p<0.001). No significant interval change was observed in hepatic dispersion (p> 0.05 and the difference between liver stiffness based on patient characteristics like age and sex was also found to be insignificant (p>0.05).
Conclusions
Long-term mpUS follow-up in patients after COVID-19 infection revealed two differing paths of alterations. An initial increase followed by a subsequent slight decrease of liver stiffness values could be suggestive of a re- duction or complete resolution of hepatic inflammation in the early to late post-COVID-19 period. At the same time a concurrent long-term increase in hepatic attenuation could point to initial stages of increased hepatic fat accumulation, although measurements did not reach the diagnostic threshold for hepatic steatosis. The results necessitate further inquiry into the underlying cellular mechanisms of long-term liver injury after COVID-19 and possibly, more broadly, systemic viral infections in general.
To assess long-term changes in liver stiffness and other multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) markers of liver damage in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection.
Materials and Methods
A cohort of patients with known previous COVID-19 infection of varying degrees of severity underwent two subsequent mpUS scans: first, within a period of 3 to 6 months after COVID-19, and then repeatedly 3 years later. Clinical and biochemical markers of liver damage were correlated with data gathered on mpUS, which included quantitative measurements of liver stiffness, dispersion and hepatic attenuation.
Results
58 patients were included in the study, of which 30 were men and 28 women. The patients’ mean age was 46.4 years (± SD 12.9). MpUS scans in the 3-to-6-month period revealed increased liver stiffness and steatosis (atten- uation) values. Repeated scans in the 3-year follow-up revealed differing paths of progression for parenchymal alterations: the median attenuation values increased from 0.56 to 0.60 dB/cm/MHz (p<0.001) and the mean stiff- ness values decreased from 5,09 to 4,60 kPa (p<0.001). No significant interval change was observed in hepatic dispersion (p> 0.05 and the difference between liver stiffness based on patient characteristics like age and sex was also found to be insignificant (p>0.05).
Conclusions
Long-term mpUS follow-up in patients after COVID-19 infection revealed two differing paths of alterations. An initial increase followed by a subsequent slight decrease of liver stiffness values could be suggestive of a re- duction or complete resolution of hepatic inflammation in the early to late post-COVID-19 period. At the same time a concurrent long-term increase in hepatic attenuation could point to initial stages of increased hepatic fat accumulation, although measurements did not reach the diagnostic threshold for hepatic steatosis. The results necessitate further inquiry into the underlying cellular mechanisms of long-term liver injury after COVID-19 and possibly, more broadly, systemic viral infections in general.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 134 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Mar 2025 |
| Event | RSU Research Week 2025: Knowledge for Use in Practice - Riga Stradiņš university, Riga, Latvia Duration: 26 Mar 2025 → 28 Mar 2025 https://rw2025.rsu.lv/conferences/knowledge-use-practice |
Conference
| Conference | RSU Research Week 2025: Knowledge for Use in Practice |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Latvia |
| City | Riga |
| Period | 26/03/25 → 28/03/25 |
| Other | Infections in the Development of Non-Communicable Diseases |
| Internet address |
Field of Science*
- 3.3 Health sciences
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)