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Wang MK, Yue HY, Cai J, Zhai YJ, Peng JH, Hui JF, Hou DY, Li WP, Yang JS. COVID-19 and the digestive system: A comprehensive review. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:3796-3813. [PMID: 34141737 PMCID: PMC8180220 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i16.3796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading at an alarming rate, and it has created an unprecedented health emergency threatening tens of millions of people worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid could be detected in the feces of patients even after smear-negative respiratory samples. However, demonstration of confirmed fecal-oral transmission has been difficult. Clinical studies have shown an incidence rate of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms ranging from 2% to 79.1% in patients with COVID-19. They may precede or accompany respiratory symptoms. The most common GI symptoms included nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In addition, some patients also had liver injury, pancreatic damage, and even acute mesenteric ischemia/thrombosis. Although the incidence rates reported in different centers were quite different, the digestive system was the clinical component of the COVID-19 section. Studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the receptor of SARS-CoV-2, was not only expressed in the lungs, but also in the upper esophagus, small intestine, liver, and colon. The possible mechanism of GI symptoms in COVID-19 patients may include direct viral invasion into target cells, dysregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, immune-mediated tissue injury, and gut dysbiosis caused by microbiota. Additionally, numerous experiences, guidelines, recommendations, and position statements were published or released by different organizations and societies worldwide to optimize the management practice of outpatients, inpatients, and endoscopy in the era of COVID-19. In this review, based on our previous work and relevant literature, we mainly discuss potential fecal-oral transmission, GI manifestations, abdominal imaging findings, relevant pathophysiological mechanisms, and infection control and prevention measures in the time of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Ke Wang
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Hai-Yan Yue
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Jin Cai
- Department of Geriatrics, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Yu-Jia Zhai
- Department of Outpatient Services, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Jian-Hui Peng
- Department of Quality Management, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital (Pazhou Campus), Guangzhou 510317, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ju-Fen Hui
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Deng-Yong Hou
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Wei-Peng Li
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Ji-Shun Yang
- Medical Care Center, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200052, China
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