A study of correlation of serum albumin with dengue severity

Abstract

Background: Dengue viruses are flavivirus, which include four serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4. Clinical expression of dengue virus infection vary from asymptomatic infection to severe dengue with shock. It is the most rapidly spreading vector borne disease in the world. An estimated 50 million dengue infections occur annually and approximately 2.5 billion people live in dengue endemic countries. The objective of this study was to predict the severity of Dengue illness by correlating the serum albumin levels.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study done on patients admitted in Basaveshwara Medical College and Research Institute, Chitradurga, Karnataka, a tertiary care Hospital. Patients with Dengue NS1 Ag or IgM positive are included in the study after meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. Complete Blood count, serum albumin levels are estimated at the time of admission.Results: Study enrolled 100 patients with confirmed Dengue virus infection who were admitted to the hospital between July 2017 and December 2018. Serum samples taken within 24 hours of admission was used for biochemical tests. Out of 100 patients, 24 developed Severe Dengue. Cases of Severe Dengue had low levels of serum albumin. Multivariate analysis showed that early alterations of albumin i.e. out of 24 patients who developed severe dengue, 21 patients i.e. 92.7% had low albumin of <3gm/dlConclusions: Early changes in biochemical parameter, serum albumin can predict Severe Dengue in patients with Dengue febrile illness.