Posts by Patricia L. Pringle Bloom, MD
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Elevations in Aminotransferases Mirror Severity of COVID-19
The pattern of liver biochemistries in COVID-19 is notable for elevation in aspartate aminotransferase, possibly reflecting a unique virally mediated mechanism of hepatic injury.
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Mortality in COVID-19 Does Not Appear to Be Driven by Liver Failure
Massachusetts General Hospital researchers report that elevated liver function tests are common in COVID-19, but severe liver injury is rare, and no case of liver failure or dysfunction leading to death has been attributed directly to COVID-19.
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LFTs in COVID-19
Elevated liver biochemistries (often called LFTs and generally encompassing AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and total and direct bilirubin, +/- GGT) are common in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Occasionally these elevations reach a threshold that triggers clinical concern. In tonight’s FLARE, we describe what is known about LFTs in COVID-19 as well as the clinical implications of elevated LFTs in this disease.
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Fecal Microbiota Transplant Cures Most Patients with C. Difficile Who Also Have Cirrhosis
Patients with cirrhosis who have recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infection are likely to be cured with oral frozen fecal microbiota transplant but may need more capsules than noncirrhotic patients do.
Digestive Healthcare at Mass General
The Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center is a collaborative practice of gastroenterologists, endoscopists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, hepatologists, oncologists and radiation oncologists dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of digestive diseases.