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

Abstract

AbstractBackground and AimsA 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.MethodsThrough 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.ResultsOf 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).ConclusionsThese results indicate that UDCA administration does not reduce susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children with liver disease.