COVID-19 Infection and Various Liver Diseases - Is There Any Correlation?

Mokhria RK, Bhardwaj JK and Singh Y

Published on: 2025-05-19

Abstract

COVID-19, or coronavirus disease, is one of the most pressing issues in world health today. It is primarily a respiratory disease. But later on, this virus is recognized as not only a respiratory system virus that causes severe lung disease but also a systemic disease agent that can affect all systems in human beings. People with COVID-19 disease usually have respiratory signs; however, the liver disorder is not an uncommon presentation. Furthermore, numerous investigations conducted globally have demonstrated that individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus experience varying degrees of liver damage. There are a number of possible ways that SARS-CoV-2 may damage liver tissue.

The majority of the data show that systemic inflammation is most likely the cause of liver damage in SARS-CoV-2 infections, rather than a cytopathic effect on liver cells. Furthermore, medications (antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, remdesivir, tocilizumab, tofacitinib, and dexamethasone) and hypoxic injury may result in liver changes. The two main goals of this study are to ascertain how SARS-CoV-2 affects the liver and what factors put people with COVID-19 at a higher risk of developing liver problems. An update on the current effects of COVID-19 on the liver is given in this review.