COVID-19 Infection Causing Liver Infarction, Severe Cholangiopathy, and Biliary Cast Syndrome

Abstract

We present a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia with severe multi-organ failure who developed a liver infarction in the setting of acute illness and following recovery, had persistent cholestatic liver injury. On further evaluation, he was found to have a severe destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts and biliary cast syndrome and ultimately, was felt to have severe ischemic cholangiopathy in the setting of recent COVID-19 infection. Because of the extent of destruction and persistent cholestasis, he is at risk of secondary biliary cirrhosis and is therefore undergoing a liver transplant evaluation. This case highlights a rare entity of liver infarction and severe cholangiopathy with biliary cast syndrome in the setting of COVID-19 infection. It is the first case of this reported to date, and its recognition in the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic is important. Keywords: Biliary cast, Cirrhosis, Cholangiopathy , COVID-19, Liver infarction.