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. 2020 Apr 22;44(3):275–281. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2020.04.001
Aim Protect, as much as possible, healthcare staff and NON-COVID patients from SARS-CoV-2 contamination by caring for patients under safe conditions.
Potential adjustments of etiological treatment of the liver disease HBV: continue on-going analogous treatments or their initiation in emergency situations (cirrhosis, reactivation) if the patient's condition permits.
HCV: continue on-going direct antiviral treatments if the patient's condition permits, but defer treatment initiation in waiting patients.
HDV: continue (or decrease in dosage) on-going anti-viral treatments with Bulevirtide in combination or not with interferon-α in the Temporary Use Authorisation cohort framework on a case-by-case according to the severity of COVID-19 and its impact on liver disease (individual risk-benefit balance).
If outpatient treatment continues, it is imperative to repeat the strict advice with regards to confinement and barrier precautions, to delegate if possible to a third party the monthly retrieval of treatments from the hospital pharmacy, and to have monthly check-ups carried out at home by a registered nurse in the absence of hospitalisation.
For patients with impaired renal function (clearance < 60ml/min), and/or decompensated liver disease, Bulevirtide should be discontinued.
Alcohol: repeat advice on consumption moderation including at least 2 days of abstinence per week and if possible not to begin an abrupt withdrawal.
NASH: remain alert as many of these patients are at risk for the severe form (if they have component(s) of metabolic syndrome(s) listed in reference 9).
Genetic hemochromatosis: temporarily stop phlebotomies.
Rare liver diseases (Autoimmune Hepatitis, PBC, PSC, Wilson, etc.):
The possible continuation or reduction in dosage of immunosuppressive treatments must be discussed on a case-by-case basis according to the severity of COVID-19 infection and the individual benefit/risk balance with the internist/infectious disease specialist/intensive care staff on one hand and the hepatologist on the other hand, together if necessary with the help of local Competence Centres or the French Reference Centre.
For corticosteroids, a decrease in dosage may be discussed if necessary but maintaining a dose of at least 10 mg/day to avoid adrenal insufficiency.
Other immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine (Imurel®) or mycophenolic acid (Cellcept®) may be reduced if necessary, especially in patients with lymphopenia, bacterial or fungal superinfection, or lung aggravation related to COVID-19.



Liver transplant recipients[4]:
1.Outpatient or Inpatient with Symptomatic COVID-19 Not Presenting Severe Form Signs (not requiring oxygen)
1.1 - Patients < 1 year since transplantation
- Discontinue corticosteroid treatment unless there is a high immunological risk of rejection or recurrence of autoimmune disease, in which case the corticosteroid needs to be reduced and maintained at 5 mg/day.
- Discontinue mycophenolic acid (Cellcept® or Myfortic®) or azathioprine (Imurel®) immunosuppressive therapy and resume after viral recovery at the same dose prior to cessation.
- Continue treatment with tacrolimus with target residual blood concentrations between 4-8 ng/mL, or continue treatment with cyclosporin with target residual blood concentrations between 100-150 ng/mL or target blood concentrations between 400-600 ng/mL at 2 hours after intake (C2).



For patients treated with mTOR inhibitors:
- For patients under tacrolimus + mTOR inhibitor dual therapy: discontinue mTOR inhibitor (Rapamune® or Certican®) treatment and resume treatment following recovery at the same dose prior to cessation, maintenance of tacrolimus treatment with target residual blood concentrations between 4 and 8 ng/mL.
- For patients under mycophenolic acid (Cellcept® or Myfortic®) + mTOR inhibitor dual therapy: halve the dosage of mycophenolic acid and continue of mTOR inhibitor (Rapamune® or Certican®) treatment with target residual blood concentrations between 4 and 6 ng/ml, resumption after recovery at the same dose prior to cessation.



1.2 - Patients > 1 year since transplantation
- Patients treated with corticosteroid treatment due to a high immunological risk of rejection or recurrence of autoimmune disease: maintain corticosteroids (same dose).
- Discontinue mycophenolic acid (Cellcept® or Myfortic®) treatment and resumption after recovery at the same dose prior to cessation.
- For patients treated with calcineurin inhibitors, maintain tacrolimus and cyclosporin at the same doses.
- For patients treated with mTOR inhibitors:
-1. For patients under tacrolimus + mTOR inhibitor dual therapy: discontinue mTOR inhibitor (Rapamune® or Certican®) treatment and resume treatment following recovery at the same dose prior to cessation, maintain tacrolimus and cyclosporin treatments at the same doses.
-2. For patients under mycophenolic acid (Cellcept® or Myfortic®) + mTOR inhibitor dual therapy: discontinue mycophenolic acid treatment and resume treatment following recovery at the same dose prior to cessation, continuation of mTOR inhibitor treatment at the same dose.
-3. For patients under mycophenolic acid (Cellcept® or Myfortic®) or mTOR inhibitor monotherapy: continue treatment at the same doses.



1.3In all cases
- Resumption of pre-infectious episode treatment from day14 of symptom onset.
- Daily self-monitoring (temperature, dyspnea, chest pain).
- Regular phone calls from the doctor with patient responsibility (for example: day 3, then day 7 - important given it corresponds to the acute phase).
- Home confinement for up to 10 days after onset of symptoms.
- Outings with a mask until day 14 after onset of symptoms.



2. COVID-19 Inpatient Requiring Oxygen and/or Lymphophenic
- Maintain corticosteroids at a dose of 10 mg/day (prednisone equivalent).
- Discontinue remaining immunosuppressive therapy.
- If the patient is at high immunological risk or close to the transplant date and does not present lymphopenia:
1/ Continue treatment with calcineurin inhibitors with target residual blood concentrations between 4 et 8 ng/mL for tacrolimus and 100-150 ng/ml (C0) and 400-600 ng/mL at 2 hours after intake (C2) for cyclosporin.
2/ Resume pre-infectious episode treatment as soon as oxygen therapy is withdrawn.



3. Severe COVID-19 Infection with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Maintain corticosteroids at a dose of 10 mg/day (prednisone equivalent).
- Discontinue remaining immunosuppressive therapy.
- Resume tacrolimus at 3-5 ng/mL dosages within 72 hours of ventilation withdrawal. Resume pre-treatment as soon as viral recovery occurs, taking into account the prolonged duration of viral excretion.
General mesures - Limit the use of paracetamol for antipyretic purposes to 2-3 g/day, especially for patients with cirrhosis and/or with excessive alcohol consumption.
- Formally contraindicate the use of NSAIDs.
- Verify that there are no drug interactions between the standard treatment for liver disease and those used for COVID-19 (Annex). Due to the potentially severe liver damage among some patients, the magnitude of these interactions may be significant and caution must be taken.
- Limit diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopies to emergencies (gastrointestinal haemorrhage, bacterial cholangitis or other vital emergencies)
- Optimise nutritional care with the prescription of at least 3 oral nutritional supplements per day for all patients who cannot eat except those in intensive care unit and with limited care [11].