@article{article_1535245, title={Severe Hypertransaminasemia During Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection}, journal={Turkish Medical Journal}, volume={10}, pages={25–28}, year={2025}, DOI={10.70852/tmj.1535245}, author={Yaradılmış, Raziye Merve and Bodur, İlknur and Özcan, Ahmet Serkan and Öztürk, Betül and Aydın, Orkun and Güngör, Ali and Tuygun, Nilden}, keywords={Acil servis, COVID-19, Hipertransaminazemi, Pediatri}, abstract={Although the mechanism of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related liver damage in critically ill children is not well defined yet, it is thought to be related to the hyperinflammation phase (cytokine release). Here, we present a 40-day-old asymptomatic patient with isolated severe liver enzyme elevation associated with COVID-19. A 40-day-old female was admitted to our emergency department for screening after her mother was diagnosed with COVID-19. The patient’s vital signs and physical examination were normal on admission. Laboratory findings showed alterations in hepatic function measures. Transaminase levels increased up to 11-fold and 5-fold the upper reference limit for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) on day 6 of admission. No direct bilirubin elevation or coagulopathy was detected, and also the creatine kinase (CK) level was within the normal range. Microbial investigations excluded a superimposed congenital or acquired infection. Ultrasound examination (day 6) found only altered echogenicity in the liver. During the following weeks, AST and ALT levels decreased and resolved to normal range after 14 days from the first biochemical evaluation on admission. Pediatric patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19 infection may have severe hepatic enzyme elevation, with or without hepatic failure. A variety of mechanisms, such as direct virus infection may cause liver injury in patients with COVID-19. Clinicians should pay more attention to the occurrence of liver damage in COVID-19 infection and analyze comprehensively the pathogenesis of liver injury in management strategy.}, number={1}, publisher={Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Yenimahalle Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi}