Case Report: Liver Cysts and SARS-CoV-2: No Evidence of Virus in Cystic Fluid

Background: In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia, caused by a new type of coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It quickly spread worldwide, resulting in a pandemic. The clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 range from mild non-specific symptoms to severe pneumonia with organ function damage. In addition, up to 60% of patients have liver impairment or dysfunction, confirmed by several studies by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the liver tissue.

Methods: We report two cases of symptomatic liver cyst requiring fenestration after recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both patients had hospital admission due to documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recently, after the infection, they developed symptoms caused by an enlarged hepatic cyst: one had abdominal pain, and the other had jaundice. They underwent surgery after two negative swab tests for SARS-CoV-2.

Results: Cystic fluid was sent for microbiological test, and real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction COVID-19 nucleic-acid assay of the cyst fluid was found to be negative in both cases.

Discussion: Although there are no current data that can document a viral contamination of cystic fluid, there are data that document a hepatotropism of COVID-19 virus. Herein we report that after viral clearance at pharyngeal and nasal swab, there is no evidence of viral load in such potential viral reservoir.

Background

In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia, caused by a new type of coronavirus, named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in China. It quickly spread worldwide, resulting in a pandemic.

SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for more than 140,332,386 confirmed cases, with more than 3 million deaths around the world, as recently reported by the World Health Organization (1).

The clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) range from mild non-specific symptoms, to severe pneumonia with damage to organ function. Common symptoms are ageusia, anosmia, fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea, myalgia, and headache; less common symptoms are sore throat, rhinorrhea, chest pain, hemoptysis, conjunctival congestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms (2, 3).

SARS-CoV-2 hepatotropism is a quite controversial topic in literature as a direct evidence of specific liver tropism is challenging to obtain and yet not fully documented (4–6). From 43% up to 60% of patients have elevation of liver enzymes and liver impairment. This is confirmed by several studies, which conclude that there is a potential presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the liver tissue (7–13). Furthermore, patients with severe infection by SARS-CoV-2 seem to have higher rates of liver dysfunction. It is currently uncertain whether the COVID-19–related liver injury is due to the direct viral infection of liver parenchyma and/or to coexisting conditions, such as the use of hepatotoxic drugs, the systemic inflammatory response, and multiple organ dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection (14–22). As a viral hepatotropism has been postulated, to date, it is unclear if the virus can be present, after pulmonary and systemic clearance, in retained body fluids such as liver cystic fluid. Herein, we discuss two cases of symptomatic liver cysts, surgically treated, in patients with recently confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study is to verify the persistence or absence of viral load of COVID-19 virus in the cystic fluid after negative pharyngeal swab tests.

Case Presentation

Patient 1

On May 20, 2020, a 60-year-old woman came to the emergency room of Padova Teaching Hospital, with a 2-day history of high-intensity abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anemia (hemoglobin level at 8.1 g/dL), without any sign or symptom of gastrointestinal bleeding. She was afebrile, and she denied fever, cough, and shortness of breath in the previous days.

The patient had a medical history of extramammary Paget disease, right lower lung lobectomy for pulmonary adenocarcinoma in 2018, and an asymptomatic liver cyst on regular follow-up.

At admission, an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 20 × 13.6-cm simple hepatic cyst, which caused compression on the gallbladder, stomach, and pancreas and Wirsung dilatation (Figure 1). No sign of active bleeding was detected at the CT scan, and the cyst appeared enlarged, when compared with previous follow-up radiological examinations.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. CT scan of Patient 1 showing the liver cyst that occupies all the left hemi-liver.

At admission, a real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay of pharyngeal swabs was performed, and the patient tested positive for COVID-19 nucleic acid. Blood tests showed a normal white blood cell (WBC) count (5.26 × 10⁹/L, reference range = 4.40–11.00 × 10⁹/L), elevated blood levels for C-reactive protein (CRP) (11 mg/L, reference range = 0–6 mg/L), and normal levels for procalcitonin (0.06 μg/L, reference range = 0.00–0.50 μg/L). Three consecutive samples of fecal occult blood test resulted negative.

The patient was treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, according to regional guidelines in force at that time. Because of the symptoms caused by the liver cyst, after healing from the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and with two consecutive negative swab tests (6 and 7 days after the first positive swab), the patient was transferred to our facility for liver surgery.

At admission to the surgical department on May 29, 2020, the patient had normal body temperature at 35.7°C. Three consecutive RT-PCR assays of pharyngeal swabs and of sputum tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Blood tests showed a normal WBC count of 4.41 × 10⁹/L; the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin levels were 14 U/L (reference range = 7–35 U/L), 22 U/L (reference range = 10–35 U/L), and 10.8 μmol/L (reference range = 1.7–17.0 μmol/L), respectively. Anti-Echinococcus antibodies were also performed, and they tested negative.

As planned, the patient underwent a laparoscopic cyst fenestration, the day after admission (Figure 2). The video laparoscopic exploration and the intraoperative ultrasound documented the already known per-magna hepatic cyst, with complete atrophy of the left hepatic lobe. After cyst incision, 1,500 mL of transparent “rock water” fluid was drained, and the cyst fenestration was performed. The cystic wall was sent for pathology, and the cystic fluid for cytology: the first was consistent with simple biliary cist, the latter with granulocytes, lymphocytes, and macrophages. Cystic fluid tested negative at microbiological research. In particular, the RT-PCR COVID-19 nucleic-acid assay of the cystic fluid was found to be negative. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the second post-operative day with no complications.

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Patient 1 Intraoperative image after completing the cyst fenestration.

Patient 2

On March 27, 2020, an 80-year-old man was admitted to a Local Hospital Medical Department for asthenia, headache, and general malaise. He denied fever and dyspnea. The patient had a medical history of benign prostatic hypertrophy, chronic cerebral vasculopathy, dyslipidemia, and a simple liver cyst of 35 mm on regular follow-up. At admission, oxygen saturation was ~89%, blood tests showed normal WBC count (4.49 × 10⁹/L, reference range = 3.60–10.50 × 10⁹/L), normal blood level of procalcitonin (<0.05 ng/mL, reference range = 0.0–0.5 ng/mL), but elevated blood levels of CRP (5.6 mg/dL, reference range = 0.00–0.50 mg/dL). Liver function tests were normal: AST 28 U/L (reference range = 0–50 U/L), ALT 30 U/L (reference range = 0–50 U/L), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) 171 U/L (reference range = 0–55 U/L), total bilirubin 0.6 mg/dL (reference range = 0.2–1.2 mg/dL), and direct bilirubin 0.2 mg/dL (reference range = 0.0–0.2 mg/dL). The RT-PCR assay of pharyngeal-nose swab tested positive for COVID-19 nucleic acid. The chest x-ray showed a bilateral pneumonia. Given the rapid clinical deterioration, positive-pressure ventilation with a continuous positive airway pressure was undertaken. The patient was initially treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, and subsequently with darunavir and ritonavir, according to the regional guidelines. After 7 days, the patient was weaned from high-flow ventilatory support, and he was discharged home 2 weeks after admission, continuing home surveillance until 2 consecutive swab tests were negative for COVID-19 nucleic acid.

On June 27, 2020, the patient was admitted to the same Local Hospital Medical Department for jaundice, weakness, general discomfort, bloated abdomen, and diarrhea. He was afebrile, with normal vital signs. He denied recent respiratory symptoms. At the time of the admission, the RT-PCR COVID-19 nucleic-acid assay of pharyngeal swab was negative. Blood tests showed normal WBC count (10.43 × 10⁹/L), a slight increase in CRP level (2.28 mg/dL), and important alterations of liver function tests, with a total bilirubin of 16.6 mg/dL, direct bilirubin of 9.2 mg/dL, AST 477 U/L, ALT 614 U/L, and GGT 1347 U/L.

An abdominal CT scan was performed, revealing an enlargement of the hepatic cyst to 9 × 7.5 cm in segment 4b (Figure 3A). The magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography described a compression of the main biliary confluence, with dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary tracts, due to the enlargement of the liver cyst (Figure 3B). The cyst had no signs of active bleeding or communication with the biliary tract. Blood research of anti-Echinococcus antibodies tested negative. After a multidisciplinary discussion, surgical intervention was recommended, and the patient was transferred to the surgical department. The patient underwent a laparoscopic cyst fenestration: 500 mL of clear liquid was drained and sent for microbiological research and cytology, whereas the cystic wall was sent for pathology. The pathological analysis was consistent with normal hepatic parenchyma with no alterations, and the cytology was negative for neoplastic cells. Cystic fluid was found to be negative for both microbiological and RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid research. Post-operative blood tests showed a progressive reduction of hyperbilirubinemia: on day 4, total bilirubin dropped to 5.6 mg/dL, and direct bilirubin to 2.5 mg/dL. AST, ALT, and GGT decreased to 119, 271, and 329 U/L, respectively. The patient was discharged in good clinical condition without surgical complications on the fifth post-operative day.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3. Patient 2, preoperative imaging: (A) CT scan and (B) MRCP demonstrating biliary confluence compression with dilatation.

Discussion and Conclusions

Liver impairment has been reported as a frequent manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (23). The mechanism remains still unclear and controversial, as liver injury could be the result of the direct viral infection, as well as a reflection of the severe inflammatory response, hypoxic hepatitis as a result of anoxia, and it could be also caused by the use of hepatotoxic drugs. Nevertheless, several studies confirm the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to directly affect liver tissue, by binding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. In vitro studies identified ACE2 cell surface receptor expressed in cholangiocytes as the host receptor for viral entry, leading to cholangiocyte dysfunction and liver injury (23–26). Moreover, pathological studies confirmed the presence of the virus in liver tissue (9, 24, 27–29). However, liver tropism remains a debated topic in literature (Table 1). This is due to the lack of solid research models and paucity of histological studies due to difficulty of obtaining samples of liver tissue during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Currently, the most solid data came from post-mortem or in vitro studies on liver organoids or human and animal cell lines (10–12, 14, 19, 20, 30).

TABLE 1

Table 1. Studies on hepatotropism available in the literature.

Hepatic cysts are fluid-filled cavities located in the liver. Prevalence is estimated to be between 2.5 and 18.0%, of the general population. Simple cysts tend to occur more commonly in the right lobe, and they are more prevalent in women. The female-to-male ratio is ~1.5:1. In most cases, simple cysts are asymptomatic and incidentally discovered by ultrasound or CT scan, and they have a benign course. Large cysts are more likely to be symptomatic, causing abdominal pain, discomfort, compression of the biliary tree, or leading to other complications such as spontaneous rupture bleeding and infection of cystic fluid (31). Several therapeutic approaches have been described for symptomatic, large, simple cysts. Wide unroofing and cyst resection have been associated with a relatively low incidence of cyst recurrence and post-operative complications (32).

In the two cases herein described, both patients had symptoms caused by an increase in size of their liver cyst. The first patient had a history of dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and CT scan evidence of gallbladder, stomach, and pancreas compression, with pancreatic duct dilatation. The second patient presented with jaundice secondary to the compression of the biliary bifurcation.

As the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to directly bind to ACE2-positive cholangiocytes has been documented, as well as liver tissue damage, we wondered if viral load could be detected in fluids, such as hepatic cystic fluid, even after SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary clearance. Indeed, to our knowledge, there has not been a study to report the presence of RT-PCR nucleic acid of COVID-19 in cystic fluid, to date.

In both cases herein presented, patients underwent surgery after recovery from documented SARS-CoV-2, and the RT-PCR nucleic acid of COVID-19 on the cystic fluid, collected during the operations, tested negative. Moreover, pathological reports did not document any viral presence on the cystic walls. Interestingly, both patients presented with symptoms caused by an increase in cyst size, after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We do not know if the recent systemic inflammatory response to COVID-19 could have played a role in this acute cyst enlargement.

In conclusion, we report the clinical course of two patients (one male and one female) with a recent documented history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and with symptomatic hepatic cyst, who underwent surgery after clearance of the viral load, confirmed on pharyngeal swab. Although there are no current data that can document a viral contamination of cystic fluids, we can report that after viral clearance at pharyngeal and nasal swab, there is no evidence of viral load in such a potential viral reservoir as the cystic fluid. Considering the novelty of SARS-CoV-2 disease and the poor understanding of it, we can expect more data in the future to improve our knowledge of the biology and its already proven hepatotropism. Despite the limitations of this article, as we could not provide any evidence of viral presence in cyst fluid or in the hepatic cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection, we think that this information can be helpful for the surgical planning of those patients with hepatic cysts and previous SARS-CoV-2 disease, who need liver surgery (such as liver resection for malignant or benign lesions, or fenestration of symptomatic liver cysts). We can speculate that there is no need for extra caution for operators during surgery. In addition, as the number of infected people is constantly increasing, this report could be useful also to discuss the safety of liver transplantation from donors with known previous COVID 19 infection, good hepatic function, and the presence of a liver cyst. Further studies are necessary to assess the extent and the persistence of liver damage in COVID-19 patients.

Data Availability Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics Statement

Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. Written informed consent was obtained from the individual(s) for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article.

Author Contributions

FD'A idea, draft writing, and surgical procedure. DG draft writing and specimen collection. GN review, surgical procedure, and specimen collection. DB, RB, and EG: review. MD: surgical procedure. UC: review, surgical procedure, and idea. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Abbreviations

SARS-COV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; CT scan, computed tomography scan; RT-PCR, real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; WBC, white blood cell; CRP, C-reactive protein; GGT, γ-glutamyl transferase; ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

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