“Covid-19” infection is associated with increased stiffness of the liver, which is a sign of possible long-term liver injury, according to the results of a new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Medicine Society (RSNA).
“Our study is part of the emerging evidence that COVID-19 infection may lead to liver injury that persists long following acute illness,” said Ferouzeh Heidari, MD, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Express”.
Hardening of the liver is a sign of liver damage, such as inflammation or cirrhosis. Fibrosis is the buildup of scar tissue in the liver. Over time, healthy liver tissue dwindles, and the liver is no longer able to function properly. And progressive fibrosis can lead to liver cancer and liver failure.
In the recent study, the researchers compared the stiffness of the liver of patients with a history of “Covid-19” infection with two control groups.
Statistical analysis of the results of elastographic imaging showed that patients with “Covid-19” had higher liver stiffness than control patients.
Unexpectedly, the pre-pandemic group also had a higher mean hardness (7.01) than the control-pandemic group. The reason for this finding is not yet understood but is believed to be a consequence of changing referral patterns during the epidemic. In addition, it was noted that the patients who were referred for elastography before the pandemic were older than the patients who were referred following the start of the pandemic.
“We do not yet know whether the elevated liver stiffness observed following infection with COVID-19 will lead to adverse outcomes for the patient. We are currently investigating whether the severity of acute symptoms associated with COVID-19 is predictive of the severity of liver injury in the long term,” said Dr. Heidari. “.
