Folgen nach SARS-CoV-2-Infektion einschließlich Post-COVID-Syndrom

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can cause a variety of gastroenterological symptoms. A relevant proportion of patients complain of symptoms typical of gastroenteritis; the number of patients affected by gastroenterological symptoms has increased with the spread of the omicron variants. Furthermore, there are also signs of liver involvement in infected people. In the acute phase, increased liver enzymes and acute decompensation of pre-existing liver disease are observed, which can deteriorate into acute-on-chronic liver failure. Long-term sequelae of a SARS-CoV‑2 infection must be distinguished from this. These sequelae can manifest either as direct infection- or therapy-associated sequelae, such as the development of secondary sclerosing cholangitis after intensive care therapy or as symptoms in the context of a post-coronavirus disease (COVID) syndrome. The pathophysiology leading to the development of a post-COVID syndrome is still unclear; here, the influence of the intestinal microbiome is discussed. This review article presents acute gastroenterological symptoms and long-term sequelae of a SARS-CoV‑2 infection, which we are increasingly confronted with in clinical practice.