COVID-19 Seroprevalence in Cirrhotic Patients and Effect of COVID-19 Infection on Liver Cirrhosis by Clinical Form in the Postinfectious Period

Abstract

Introduction: There are very few studies demonstrating the seroprevalence of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in patients with cirrhosis worldwide and in Turkey. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in patients with cirrhosis and its effect on liver cirrhosis by clinical form in the postinfectious period. Methods: The study included 174 patients with cirrhosis. Patients with COVID-19 were identified using anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2-immunoglobulin G (SARS-CoV-2-IgG) and COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction assays and were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. The last polyclinic records of the patients before infection or testing were determined as 1 st examination and the date of blood collection for anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG was determined as the 2 nd examination. Examination findings and liver tests of the patients in both periods were recorded; Child-Pugh Score (CPS) and Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD)-Na scores were calculated. Additionally, patients were evaluated for newly developed hepatic decompensation. Results: The seropositivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG was detected in 35.6% of our patients, and the rate of those who had symptomatic COVID-19 infection was 23.6%, whereas the rate of those who had asymptomatic infection was 12%. There was no significant difference in liver tests, CPS, and MELD-Na scores before and after COVID-19 infection between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and new decompensation was found in 9.6% of patients with COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: The incidence of COVID-19 among patients with liver cirrhosis is notably high. Although high decompensation rates were reported in the acute phase of the disease, such rates were not observed in the postinfectious period. Ultimately, our results indicated no significant difference in the course of existing liver disease according to clinical form.