Impact of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in autoimmune liver disease patients with COVID-19 and its clinical prognosis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2024.04.004
• Publication Date: 2024-04-30T09:26:36Z
• Authors: Minghui Li; Weihua Cao; Tingting Jiang; Wen Deng; Shiyu Wang; Shuling Wu; Lu Zhang; Yao Lu; Min Chang; Ruyu Liu; Xiaoyan Ding; Ge Shen; Yuanjiao Gao; Hongxiao Hao; Xiaoxue Chen; Leiping Hu; Mengjiao Xu; Yuyong Jiang; Wei Yi; Yao Xie; Rui Song
• Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC); Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA); Autoimmune liver disease (AILD); Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)

To explore the impact of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and clinical outcomes in patients with autoimmune liver disease (AILD). Patients diagnosed with AILD were enrolled and divided into a UDCA group and a non-UDCA group based on whether they received UDCA treatment. Relevant data were collected regarding AILD diagnosis, treatment, biochemical indicators, and imaging examination. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the prognosis of AILD patients were observed. A total of 1,138 patients completed follow-up. The usage rate of hormone (P = 0.003) and immunosuppressant (P = 0.001) used for treating AILD in the non-UDCA group was markedly lower than in the UDCA group. The UDCA usage rate was markedly lower in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients than in uninfected patients (P = 0.003). The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the non-UDCA group was significantly higher than in the UDCA group (P = 0.018). Logistic regression analysis showed that UDCA use (P = 0.003) was correlated to a lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2, while immunosuppressant use (P = 0.017) increased the incidence. Recovery time from SARS-CoV-2 infection was markedly longer for those receiving UDCA treatment than those in the non-UDCA group (P = 0.018). UDCA is associated with low SARS-CoV-2 incidence in AILD patients, while immunosuppressant increases its incidence instead. Patients receiving UDCA treatment have a longer recovery time after being infected.