Pancreatic repercussions among patients with COVID-19: Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Despite the important findings related to the tropism of the virus by the pancreas and the severity of these repercussions among patients, it is still unclear in the literature which are the main changes and diagnoses commonly found in patients with COVID-19 with pancreatic symptoms. METHODOLOGY: This is an integrative literature review, conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The review was conducted in the Pubmed, VHL, and Elsevier databases. Studies conducted with adults of both sexes were included and reviews, research editorials, letters to the reader, or editorial comments were excluded. The search and selection process was conducted by peers. RESULTS: Of 131 studies identified only 07 were included. There was a predominance of descriptive studies with non-probability sample variability. The main gastrointestinal symptoms reported were abdominal pain (localized in the right iliac fossa and/or diffuse), nausea, vomiting (of non-biliary nature), and/or diarrhea.  From the pancreatic repercussions, it was noticed the presence of acute pancreatitis was in about 24% of the studies included in the review, and it was seen that these patients needed oxygen, through mechanical ventilation or nasal catheter. CONCLUSION patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, showed changes at the pancreatic level, had elevated serum lipase and the minority cited increased amylase, and some had the outcome of pancreatitis. However, research is still inconclusive and lacking in information on the subject, which makes further studies in the area necessary.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/methofocusinterv1-093