Biochemical markers as predictors of dengue severity

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate biochemical markers as predictors of dengue severity clinical outcome, bleeding severity, capillary leakage, supportive therapy requirement and duration of hospital stay.Methods:In this observational study Patients from age more than 15 years with history of acute febrile illness Total 263 confirmed cases (based on the WHO criteria) of DF were included in this study, who have been admitted in our hospital. We measured levels of CK, LDH, AST and ALT with modified liquid-UV tests; semi-quantitative levels of CRP with a colorimetric rapid test; levels of albumin with colorimetric tests; and lipid profiles [cholesterol, triglycerides, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and High-density lipo-protein (HDL)] with a liquid-color test. Positive control human samples were included in all tests.Results: We found that TG and LDL-C levels were significantly lower in dengue-positive patients compared to dengue-negative patients, and that LDL-C levels showed greater decreases and thus appeared to drive the reduction in total cholesterol. LDH, CPK, AST and ALT were significantly raised in DSS in compared to DF and other febrile illness. We found that lower total serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels at presentation were associated with subsequent development of DHF/DSS.Conclusions:Assessment of lymphocyte, platelet counts, levels of LDL, TG, CPK, LDH, levels of AST and ALT are very significant and easily available and low-cost biochemical markers for prediction of dengue infection severity.