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World J Virol. Mar 25, 2023; 12(2): 109-121
Published online Mar 25, 2023. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v12.i2.109
Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the liver
Adekunle Sanyaolu, Aleksandra Marinkovic, Abu Fahad Abbasi, Stephanie Prakash, Risha Patidar, Priyank Desai, Martina Williams, Abdul Jan, Kareem Hamdy, Rachael Solomon, Vyshnavy Balendra, Maaz Ansari, Omar Shazley, Nasar Khan, Rochelle Annan, Yashika Dixon, Chuku Okorie, Afolabi Antonio
Adekunle Sanyaolu, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria, Abuja 0000, FCT, Nigeria
Aleksandra Marinkovic, Stephanie Prakash, Risha Patidar, Martina Williams, Kareem Hamdy, Vyshnavy Balendra, Maaz Ansari, Department of Basic Medical Science, Saint James School of Medicine, The Quarter 2640 0000, Anguilla
Abu Fahad Abbasi, Department of Internal Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, IL 60153, United States
Priyank Desai, Department of Basic Medical Science, American University of Saint Vincent School of Medicine, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0000, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Abdul Jan, Nasar Khan, Yashika Dixon, Department of Basic Medical Science, Windsor University School of Medicine, Cayon 0000, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Rachael Solomon, Department of Basic Medical Science, Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine, Willemstad 0000, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
Omar Shazley, Basic Medical Science, Saint James School of Medicine, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0000, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Rochelle Annan, University of Health Sciences Antigua School of Medicine, Piccadilly, St. John's Antigua
Chuku Okorie, Department of Science, Union County College, Plainfield, New Jersey, NJ 07016, United States
Afolabi Antonio, Department of Internal Medicine, Lloydminster Regional Hospital, Lloydminster S9V 1Y5, Saskatchewan, Canada
Author contributions: Sanyaolu A did the conceptualization and methodology; Abbasi AF, Prakash S, Patidar R, Desai P, Williams M, Jan A, Hamdy K, Solomon R, Balendra V, Shazley O, Khan N, Annan R, Ansari M, and Dixon Y did the writing-original draft preparation; Okorie C, Antonio A and Marinkovic A writing–review and editing the study; Marinkovic A did the project administration.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Adekunle Sanyaolu, PhD, Academic Research, Director, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria, New Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Business District, Abuja 0000, FCT, Nigeria. sanyakunle@hotmail.com
Received: November 6, 2022
Peer-review started: November 6, 2022
First decision: December 19, 2022
Revised: January 4, 2023
Accepted: February 1, 2023
Article in press: February 1, 2023
Published online: March 25, 2023
Processing time: 135 Days and 3.3 Hours
Abstract

There have been numerous concerns about the disease and how it affects the human body since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic began in December 2019. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver is being carefully investigated due to an increase in individuals with hepatitis and other liver illnesses, such as alcoholic liver disease. Additionally, the liver is involved in the metabolism of numerous drugs used to treat comorbidities and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Determining how SARS-CoV-2 affects the liver and what factors place individuals with COVID-19 at a higher risk of developing liver problems are the two main objectives of this study. This evaluation of the literature included research from three major scientific databases. To provide an update on the current impact of COVID-19 on the liver, data was collected and relevant information was incorporated into the review. With more knowledge about the effect of the disease on the liver, better management and therapeutics can be developed, and education can ultimately save lives and reduce the long-term impact of the pandemic on our population.

Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Liver; Hepatic complications

Core Tip: We investigated the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the liver due to an increase in individuals with hepatitis and other liver illnesses, such as alcoholic liver disease. Additionally, the liver is involved in the metabolism of numerous drugs used to treat comorbidities and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Determining how SARS-CoV-2 affects the liver and what factors place individuals with COVID-19 at higher risk of developing hepatic issues are the two main objectives of this study.