Ursodeoxycholic acid administration did not reduce susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children

• Published in: Liver international 2023-09, Vol.43 (9), p.1950-1954
• Main Authors: Liu, Teng, Wang, Jian‐She
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Children; Children & youth; Coronaviruses; COVID‐19; Households; Infections; Liver; Liver diseases; Questionnaires; Respiratory diseases; SARS‐CoV‐2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; UDCA; Ursodeoxycholic acid; Viral diseases
• ISSN: 1478-3223; 1478-3231
• DOI: 10.1111/liv.15660

Background and Aims A recent study suggested that administration of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) at dosages usually employed clinically may reduce rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. A recent surge of SARS‐CoV‐2 omicron infection in China allowed study of whether UDCA administration reduced susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children with liver disease. Methods Through WeChat groups, a questionnaire was distributed to families (n = 300) in which a child had been admitted to our liver service in the past 5 years. Among the families/households in which someone was infected with SARS‐CoV‐2, the proportion in which a child taking UDCA was infected was compared with the proportion in which a child not taking UDCA was infected. Results Of the 300 questionnaire answers, 280 (93.3%) were valid. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was confirmed in 226 families (80.7%): 146 children were taking UDCA (10‐20 mg/kg/day) and 80 children were not taking UDCA. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was confirmed in 95 children taking UDCA (65.1%) and in 51 children not taking UDCA (63.8%) (p = 0.843); SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was suspected in 23 children taking UDCA (15.8%) and in 11 children not taking UDCA (13.8%) (p = 0.687). Conclusions These results indicate that UDCA administration does not reduce susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children with liver disease.