Liver damage while Covid-19: problems of pathogenesis and treatment

The purpose of the review is to present an analysis of the current literature data on the pathogenesis and therapy of liver damage in Covid-19. Liver damage in COVID-19 patients can be caused by the direct cytopathogenic effect of SARS-CoV-2, an uncontrolled immune response, sepsis, severe hypoxia, or drug damage. In addition, COVID-19 can exacerbate and decompensate previously formed chronic liver diseases with the development of acute liver failure. Physicians should carefully assess the initial state of the liver, and after prescribing therapy, intensify monitoring of its functional state, especially in patients with severe COVID-19. In each clinical case, the doctor needs to establish the possible mechanisms of organ damage in order to select the most optimal patient management tactics, which would take into account all aspects of the COVID-19 course and liver damage. Currently, additional scientific information is required to uncover the features of liver damage during SARS-CoV-2 infection and in the postcovid period. Patients who have undergone COVID-19 need further monitoring to assess the long-term effects of the disease.