Covid and liver disease

[ToughToes]

Hello Everyone,

Does anybody know if covid has any impact on people with mildly fatty livers?

Thanks in advance,

Terry

[nash2 Partner]

One of my complaints about the CDC was that they didn't include liver patients in their list of at risk populations. However, there is research that suggests that we have an increased risk of complications, which makes sense as our immune system is compromised by the fibrosis.

[nash2 Partner in reply to nash2]

I see you asked specifically about mild fatty liver. If it hasn't gone to NASH covid probably has no increased risk for that stage.

[ToughToes in reply to nash2]

Thanks Nash. It's funny that, throughout the entire pandemic, I never heard much, if anything, about covid directly harming the liver. Do you know whether covid is known to cause liver damage even in people without liver disease?

[nash2 Partner in reply to ToughToes]

It doesn't attack the liver directly, but if the liver is not working properly, the body's defenses will be less effective.

[ToughToes in reply to nash2]

I'm super worried now because I tested positive for covid last Sunday, tested again today. Still positive, even though i feel much better now. But, I read that research has shown that even in people with fatty liver, getting covid can cause more stiffness in the liver, and I have my first ever fibriscan scheduled for September 17.

[ToughToes in reply to nash2]

Should I be worried now?

[nash2 Partner in reply to ToughToes]

Since you are feeling better, the odds are that you haven't been one of those who get a bad result. Many viruses can impact the liver. It is commonly transient. Covid is one of those that can show up almost anywhere in the body although it favors the lungs. Generally people who get hospitalized are the ones who need to be concerned.

[ToughToes in reply to nash2]

I see. You're right, the media failed us again.

[lusitania84 in reply to ToughToes]

Honestly worrying accomplishes absolutely nothing. It's hard not to at times and I get what you're saying. I'm guilty of it. I think we should all just try to remain diligent while trying our best to avoid any and all unnecessary worry...

[ToughToes in reply to lusitania84]

You're right. But, I was already extremely anxious about what the results of a fibroscan scheduled for Septenber 17 would be before I got covid, now that I'm aware covid could cause an increase in fibrosis/stiffness of my liver, I'm downright petrified of the gettthe scan done.

[NeverBeen2Spain in reply to ToughToes]

2 out of 3 times I got covid, my liver enzymes spiked & I got symptomatic & hospitalized (not bc of actual covid symptoms). My ALT spiked > 1,000. IDK if my agressive NAFLD NASH advancement is related to covid, First time I've heard this. I just know mine isn't normal the way it's advancing. It might not be related, so i don't want to worry you even more.

Hopefully you have the results already & it was ok?

Do you have a link where you read this? I would like to learn more bc mine is an unknown etiology.

.

[Monicka]

Hello! Having gotten covid 4 years ago in 2020 was a trigger to all my liver problems. In August 2020 my blood check was absolutely perfect. Then I contracted covid in October 2020 and liver enzymes in November 2020 were suddenly elevated twice the original values. It’s been 4 years now and they never recovered to their original values and remain elevated. All ultrasounds and fibroscans were/are ok and I don’t experience any other problems apart the elevated enzymes. I consulted this with a few doctors but they seem puzzled by this and they mostly conclude that I should not worry🤷🏻‍♀️

[ToughToes in reply to Monicka]

Hi Monicka,Thanks for your reply. Interesting. The articles I read said that covid can elevate liver enzymes, but that once covid resolves, the enzymes gradually return to normal. I'm glad, however, that covid didn't seem to harm your luver seriously enough to show up on a fibroscan. I desperately hope that will be the case for me too! Was your covid infection fairly mild?

Thanks,

Terry

[NeverBeen2Spain in reply to Monicka]

2 out of 3x's I got covid, my liver enzymes spiked & I got symptomatic & hospitalized (not bc of actual covid symptoms). My ALT spiked > 1,000. IDK if my agressive NAFLD NASH advancement is related to covid or not?

First time I've heard this is today reading yours & another comment. I just know mine isn't normal the way it's advancing really quickly since 2020 though.

It might not be related, so i don't want to worry you even more.

Right now, my aggressive form of NAFLD NASH is of an unknown etiology (not related to weight, diet, diabetes etc). I do have hypothyroidism & 1 genetic factor of hemochromatosis (iron overload) but am asymptomatic.

[Monicka]

Hi! My friend had covid, his enzymes went up but 1.5 year after they were down again to their original values. I don’t know how quickly it took for his enzymes to recover because his first blood check hasn’t been done until after 1.5 years after covid.

My enzymes didn’t go down after covid. I guess my liver might have been already slightly damaged prior to covid due to poor diet (a lot of sugar and fat) and covid was just too much for it. It likely suffered some permanent damage.

Anyway my covid wasn’t mild at all. It was bad. I had fever for almost 2weeks and total recovery lasted a bit over a month. Though it wasn’t covid per se that made it so serious. I might have trouble fighting a common flu back then. I was skinny and had just finished a marathon run. So I was exhausted, immunity almost down to zero and then my daughter came home having covid.

Since then I put on extra 7-8 kilos (16pounds), I had to. Being skinny is good for running and young people but when you get older it’s better to have something more to rely on😉

[ToughToes in reply to Monicka]

I see. Well, from what I've been reading, the severity of someone's covid infection has a distinct bearing on thw degree of harm it can do to their liver. In your case, it sounds like your immune system was running low, which allowed the virus to affect organs besides just the lungs. But, on the bright side, aside from your LFT numbers, you seem to be doing just fine now. Thanks again for your input.

[NeverBeen2Spain in reply to ToughToes]

My 3rd covid was so very mild I missed that i had covid (blood confirmed), but it caused my enzymes to increase to over a 1,000. But nothing works on me like "normal lol

[Herman7275]

Well I have a fatty liver, fibrosis, & cirrhosis and I had covid 1st week of the year, then flu for the 3rd & 4th weeks of January. Buf I came out of it, I had a complete reversal shoulder replacement surgery on May 8th. Then July 2nd I had 2 strokes. Whee !!! But I am still going strong !!!

[ToughToes]

Wow!!! You've had a rough fo of it. My question, however, is do you feel that covid worsened your liver situation in any way? I've read reports that say it increases livee stiffness.

[Herman7275 in reply to ToughToes]

Not really received any news on that yet will see my hepotoligist and have a fibroscan on Oct. 2nd, that is 1 of the questions I will ask . Will let you know !!

[ToughToes in reply to Herman7275]

OK. Have you had a fibroscan before?

[Herman7275 in reply to ToughToes]

Yes I have a fibroscan once a year, I have had 5 so far 1 every year & Oct. 2nd is this year.

[Herman7275 in reply to Herman7275]

This yrs fibroscan was considerably lower. My dr was very please. My numbers were 311 CAP (dB/m) E (kPa) 6.1 IQR Med 8%, last yrs numbers were 391 CAP (dB/m) E (kPa) 9.0 IQR Med 29%. So all in all Lot better. Relieved me alot!!! Take care!! Ron

[ToughToes in reply to Herman7275]

Good to hear! Keep up the good work.