Liver Function Tests Profile in COVID-19 Patients at the Admission Time: A Systematic Review of Literature and Conducted Researches

BACKGROUND: Since the start of coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019, many literatures addressed its epidemiology, virology, and clinical presentation. In this review, we systematically reviewed the published literature in the field of liver function tests profile in COVID-19 patients at the admission time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: systematic literature search were performed in EMBASE, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus using “severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)”, “SARS,” “SARS-CoV,” “coronavirus,” “novel coronavirus,” “liver,” “hepatitis,” “Liver function” keywords. The search was limited to range from 2019 to May 19, 2020. RESULTS: From a total 7298 articles, 145 were screened and 18 were eligible for further analysis. The highest rate of liver associated comorbidities was reported 11%. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were the most frequent assessed enzymes. Increase in AST level was seen in 10%–53% of patients while The ALT increase was seen in 5%–28% of COVID-19 patients at the admission time. The prothrombin time was increase in 7%–12% of patients and the D-dimer was reports increase in 14%–36% of COVID-19 patients at the admission time. Furthermore, albumin decrease was seen in 6%–98% of COVID-19 patients at the admission time. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, by using the results of study, it could be suggested that the liver function tests assessment is critical assessment in COVID-19 patients at the admission time. This liver function test could be used as potential prognostic factor in COVID-19 severity in future.