Zeng QL, Yu ZJ, Ji F, et al. - According to this multicentre, retrospective study, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) does not directly cause elevations in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), but it may cause elevations in gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TBIL); albumin decreased extraordinarily even after SARS-CoV-2 shedding stopped.

• A total of 70 COVID-19 inpatients were recruited.

• After illness, 22 (31.4%) patients had a history of self-medication.

• The abnormal rates and levels of ALT and AST did not show any significant dynamic changes during the entire period of viral shedding.

• On day 10 of viral shedding, the abnormal rate and level of GGT increased significantly.

• Meanwhile, no significant increases in abnormal ALP rates or levels were observed at the same time.

• TBIL abnormal rates and levels increased significantly on days 1 and 5 of viral shedding.

• From baseline to SARS-CoV-2 clearance day, albumin abnormal decrease rates increased and levels decreased consistently.

• Thirteen patients (18.6%) had chronic liver disease, and two died as a result.

• During SARS-CoV-2 shedding, the frequencies and levels of ALT and AST abnormalities did not rise in patients with chronic liver disease.