Coronavirus information for liver patients

Written by: Professor Patrick Kennedy
Published: | Updated: 14/04/2020
Edited by: Emma McLeod

Get clarification on the impact coronavirus COVID-19 has on patients with liver disease or specifically those with cirrhosis or those undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis. Professor Patrick Kennedy, a leading liver specialist, provides you with reliable and trustworthy information on how to approach maintaining your current liver management during the pandemic.

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Should I self-isolate if I have an existing liver condition?

If you have a diagnosis of cirrhosis have had a liver transplant or are taking immunosuppressive medication, it’s critical that you stay at home to avoid being exposed to COVID-19. Click here for a full list of clinically vulnerable groups advised to shield themselves for at least 12 weeks during the COVID crisis.

 

However, if you’re on antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) but don’t have a diagnosed liver disease (significant fibrosis or cirrhosis), you should not be at any increased risk from COVID-19. In this case, you should continue to take your antiviral therapy and follow the advice for the general population; work from home if possible and maintain social distancing to reduce your risk of contracting the virus.

 

What will happen to the management of my condition?

The majority of hospital and specialist clinics have made arrangements for antiviral therapy and other medications usually prescribed in these clinics to be prescribed in advance over the coming months. In some cases, medications will be couriered to patients to minimize hospital visits and potential exposure to COVID-19. In addition, routine laboratory tests and surveillance imaging will be deferred for many patients. Please liaise directly with your treating physician to determine what plans are in place for your care during the COVID crisis.

 

What if I’m experiencing COVID-19 symptoms?

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, muscle aches and pains (myalgia) or a dry persistent cough, you should call NHS 111 immediately. Do not visit your local GP surgery or walk-in clinic. Instead, self-isolate at home and visit the NHS website for advice.

 

Where can I find up-to-date information about Coronavirus online?

It’s important to get accurate and up-to-date information about COVID-19. Please see the Public Health England website. There are many fraudulent and inaccurate sources of information circulating on the internet. Therefore, it’s critical that you get hold of and share information from reputable sources like Public Health England.

 

Click here to discover how Professor Kennedy, a leading liver specialist in London, can help you look after your liver.

By Professor Patrick Kennedy
Hepatology (liver specialist)

Professor Patrick Kennedy is a leading London-based consultant physician and hepatologist, whose work in viral liver disease is known internationally.
 
Professor Kennedy trained at University College Dublin. Upon completion of his initial medical training, he undertook post-graduate training in London and was subsequently appointed as a senior lecturer at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2009.

Professor Kennedy  has a special interest in the management of liver disease in young people, working closely with premiership football clubs and managing liver disease in professional sports people and elite athletes from the UK and abroad.
 
He has produced novel work redefining disease phase in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The main focus of his curent research work is around broadening treatment candidacy and the development of individualised treatment strategies for viral liver disease. He is widely published in the field of hepatology, with over 200 publications and 90 peer-reviewed articles, in addition to multiple book chapters, he has also edited a textbook of hepato-gastroenterology.
 
Additionally, Professor Kennedy is an expert advisor for the WHO and is part of the HBV clinical guideline development group. He is also a member of the European Association for the study of the liver (EASL) HBV clinical practice guidelines and has served as a member for NICE on the viral hepatitis clinical guideline committee.
 
Furthermore, Professor Kennedy provides expert opinion for the United Kingdom Advisory Panel (UKAP) on blood-borne viruses and is the current chair of the British Viral Hepatitis Group and former Lead for the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) HBV special interest group. He works closely with industry and provides expert opinion on drug development programmes.
 
He is the principal Investigator for a number of investigator-led and commercial phase 1, 2 and 3, clinical trials of novel therapies in viral liver disease. At present, he leads studies on the development of novel therapies in HBV and hepatitis delta virus (HDV). In addition, he is passionate about patient education and ensuring patients play a central role in their own management. Professor Kennedy has developed HBV&Me, a management app, and a current area of his research is expanding the utility of patient management tools to improve care.

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