Lipase Elevation in Patients With COVID-19

Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Aug;115(8):1286-1288. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000732.

Abstract

Introduction: Although coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been associated with gastrointestinal manifestations, its effect on the pancreas remains unclear. We aimed to assess the frequency and characteristics of hyperlipasemia in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients across 6 US centers with COVID-19.

Results: Of 71 patients, 9 (12.1%) developed hyperlipasemia, with 2 (2.8%) greater than 3 times upper limit of normal. No patient developed acute pancreatitis. Hyperlipasemia was not associated with poor outcomes or symptoms.

Discussion: Although a mild elevation in serum lipase was observed in some patients with COVID-19, clinical acute pancreatitis was not seen.

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / epidemiology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anorexia / epidemiology
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Cohort Studies
  • Coronavirus Infections / blood
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipase / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nausea / epidemiology
  • Pancreatitis / blood
  • Pancreatitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatitis / epidemiology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / blood
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vomiting / epidemiology

Substances

  • Lipase