Liver injury in remdesivir-treated COVID-19 patients

Excerpt

Novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection results predominantly in pulmonary involvement (Coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19), but a direct, SARS-CoV-2-induced liver damage has also been described [1, 2]. Thus, it is important to monitor liver function and evaluate hepatic safety of drugs administered to COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir (RDV), a nucleotide analogue RNA polymerase inhibitor, originally developed and tested for Ebola virus disease, showed in vitro efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 [3], and experience on its efficacy and safety for COVID-19 is accumulating [4, 5]. However, hepatic safety of RDV in COVID-19 has not been the focus of detailed investigation. Here, we describe patterns of liver toxicity in 5 COVID-19 patients treated with RDV in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy, during March and April 2020. Overall, our Hospital cared for 32 critically ill COVID-19 patients. …