Abstract
Retrospective Cohort Study on the Effect of Glycyrrhizic Acid in COVID-19 Associated Liver Injury
Belly Jamaica D. Garcia, MD*, Ruth Ursula Cinco, MD
Gastroenterology Fellow, Veterans Memorial Medical Center , **Gastroenterology Consultant, Veterans Memorial Medical Center
Background: COVID-19 infection is known to result to multi-organ dysfunction. Liver impairment is common and has been observed in 60% of patients with COVID-19. Glycyrrihizic acid, the primary active compound of the licorice root has been used historically to treat liver diseases such as Hepatitis B and C. This study aims to examine the effect of glycyrrhizic acid on the outcome of patients with COVID-19 associated liver disease.
Methodology: This is a single center retrospective cohort study conducted at Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) from January to December 2021. COVID-19 confirmed patients with COVID-19 associated liver disease treated with IV glycyrrihizic acid preparation were included in the study. Data gathering was done thru chart review, including demographics, laboratory results, length of hospital stay, managements given and outcome.
Results: This study included 72 patients and majority of patients were 61-80 years old (47.2%) with 50 (69.4%) males. Majority of patients (81%) have recovered from COVID-19 associated liver injury [full (31%)and partial (41%)].There was a significant improvement of SGOT/ AST and SGPT/ALT (p <0.001) after 5 days of IV glycyrrhizic acid infusion to patients with COVID-19 related liver injury.
Conclusion: Glycyrrhizic acid demonstrated improvement in liver function in patients with COVID-19 associated liver injury. One of the limitations of this study is that the improvement of the liver enzymes cannot be fully attributed to the effect of glycyrrhizic acid IV infusion. Randomised controlled trials are recommended.
Keywords: Glycyrrhizic acid, COVID-19 liver injury, anti-viral, liver transaminases
Important Dates to Remember
| JRRE Activities 2023-2024 |
Proposed Dates |
|---|---|
| Resumption of face-to-face Evidence-Based Medicine Workshop Venue to be announced once finalized. |
July 21, 2023 (Friday), 1-5pm |
| Monthly Critical Appraisal of Topics Conferences to be gaciliated by Research Coordinators per Institution | Monthly Critical Appraisal of Topics Conferences per Institution |
| CAT Plenary/Liver Con Dates: September 23, 2023 December 16, 2023 March 2024 (During the JAC) Resumption of face-to-face Quarterly Critical Appraisal of Topics facilitated by the JRRE |
2 Clinical scenarios and articles are to be sent to institutions each on August 2023, November 2023, and February 2024; |
| Hybrid Research Workshop 4 week asynchronous via Moodle, followed by a 1 day on-site Onsite Workshop Research Protocol Presentation for Level I GI Fellows-In-Training - Research Protocol Presentation: August 12, 2023 - Research Forums of the Tripartite Societies |
Week 1: July 15-21, 2023 Week 2: July 22-28, 2023 Week 3: July 29-August 4, 2023 Week 4: August 5-11, 2023 |
| Research Manuscript Workshop for level II GI Fellows-In-Training | January 6, 2024 |