COVID-19 activated a mutation that destroyed the liver

The patient underwent a transplant from a posthumous donor,the Lviv Transplantation Center reported .

Lviv resident Iryna Chaibay contracted COVID-19 back in 2020, the disease was almost asymptomatic. However, the results of blood tests were alarming: the platelet level was critically above normal, reaching 900 (with a maximum of 400). After a consultation, hematologists prescribed Iryna blood-thinning medications and the indicators normalized.

Later, in 2022, Iryna developed ascites – excessive fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. The woman underwent surgery. Then she first heard the diagnosis of “Budd-Chiari syndrome” – a violation of the outflow of venous blood from the liver caused by thrombosis.

To restore blood flow, the patient had a stent placed. This gave Irina two more years of peace. However, last year, the woman was hospitalized again due to ascites. The prescribed treatment no longer helped.

Ultimately, doctors determined that her condition had deteriorated critically: the patient had progressed cirrhosis of the liver, and the only way out was an organ transplant.

“We discovered a factor V Leiden mutation in Iryna – this is a fairly rare genetic mutation that affects blood clotting. Sometimes people may not know about it their whole lives. But there are certain factors that can trigger the process. In Iryna, COVID-19 became such,” said Oleg Huziy, a transplantologist at St. Panteleimon Hospital.

Iryna has two sons, so she was determined to fight for her life and health. Therefore, when a deceased donor became available on July 8, the woman had no doubt that the operation would be successful.

In the end, it happened.It has been more than two months since the transplant. Iryna is doing well and can now enjoy time with her sons.

As a reminder, in July, doctors performed an organ transplant from a deceased four-year-old girl. The transplant took place during Russian shelling.