COVID-19, Vaccines and Liver Disease Plus AAP Declares Mental Health Emergency

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OK Fix et al. Hepatology 2021; 74: 1049-1064. Open Access. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Expert Panel Consensus Statement: Vaccines to Prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection in Patients With Liver Disease

“Remarkably safe and highly effective mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are now available for widespread use and should be given to all adult patients with CLD and LT recipients. The online companion document located at https://www.aasld.org/about-aasld/covid-19-resources will be updated as additional data become available regarding the safety and efficacy of other COVID-19 vaccines in development.”

A Saviano et al. Hepatology 2021; 74: 1088-1100. Open Access (Review) Liver Disease and Coronavirus Disease 2019: From Pathogenesis to Clinical Care

  • “The presence of liver injury is a surrogate marker for more severe disease and higher mortality in patients with COVID-19. An elevated AST level is the most robust predictor of poor outcome.”
  • “Liver injury and mortality in COVID-19 are likely multifactorial, driven by a sustained and excessive systemic release of proinflammatory and prothrombotic cytokines following SARS-CoV-2 infection, iatrogenic injury caused by DILI, hemodynamic changes associated with mechanical ventilation or vasopressor use, and worsening of underlying liver injury in those with CLD.”
  • “Risk of de novo liver injury appears limited in patients without CLD, and only rare cases of COVID-19–related ACLF [acute-on-chronic liver failure] were observed.”

Related blog post: Aspen Webinar 2021 Part 1: COVID-19 and the Liver (William Balistreri)

“COVID-19–related liver injury and mortality in patients who were hospitalized with and without chronic liver disease (CLD). Patients without CLD usually present with AST elevation, which correlates with ICU admission and mortality. Among patients with CLD, NAFLD has the highest risk of severe illness, ICU admission, and need for mechanical ventilation. Patients with cirrhosis are at risk for decompensation, and patients who are decompensated have a high risk of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and mortality.”–Abbreviations: CTP, Child-Turcotte-Pugh; ICU, intensive care unit.

Link to AAP News: AAP, AACAP, CHA declare national emergency in children’s mental health (Thanks to Ben Gold for passing this along)

  • “We are caring for young people with soaring rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality that will have lasting impacts on them, their families, their communities, and all of our futures,” said AACAP President Gabrielle A. Carlson, M.D. “We cannot sit idly by. This is a national emergency, and the time for swift and deliberate action is now.”
  • These organizations make several recommendations to policy makers including more access for mental health services. (I worry that we do not have sufficient numbers of qualified mental health practitioners to meet the challenge.)