Caution With the Use of Lopinavir/Ritonavir in Severely Ill Patients for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2: A Report of Severe Jaundice

Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Oct;115(10):1716-1718. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000828.

Abstract

Introduction: We investigated the potential hepatotoxicity of lopinavir/ritonavir recently used in the treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort of critical patients in a teaching hospital: 12 treated with lopinavir/ritonavir and 30 in the standard-of-care group.

Results: Elevation occurred more frequently in patients treated with lopinavir/ritonavir (33% vs 6.7%).

Discussion: Caution is advised regarding the use of lopinavir/ritonavir in the most severe cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data
  • Jaundice / chemically induced*
  • Jaundice / diagnosis
  • Jaundice / epidemiology
  • Lopinavir / administration & dosage
  • Lopinavir / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ritonavir / administration & dosage
  • Ritonavir / adverse effects*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Standard of Care / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • lopinavir-ritonavir drug combination
  • Lopinavir
  • Ritonavir