Drugs and liver injury: a not to be overlooked binomial in COVID-19

Abstract

SARS–CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) results predominantly in pulmonary involvement but a direct, virus-induced liver damage may also occur, whose mechanisms are being actively investigated. Accordingly, it appears of utmost importance to monitor liver function and carefully evaluate hepatic safety of the various drugs administered during COVID-19. In this respect, many drugs, biological agents and novel molecules, whose efficacy in COVID-19 is under scrutiny, have also been shown to potentially cause or worsen liver damage. In this article, we review safety data of established as well as promising agents for COVID-19.

Keywords:

• Hepatitis
• cholestasis
• liver failure
• remdesivir
• hydroxychloroquine
• azithromycin

Acknowledgements

None

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this study. Durante-Mangoni E received grant support and personal fees, outside of this work, from Roche, Pfizer, MSD, Angelini, Bio-Merieux, Abbvie, Nordic Pharma, Sanofi-Aventis, Medtronic, and DiaSorin. Zampino R received personal fees, outside of this work, from Nordic Pharma.