Research Projects

This study was planned to identify biomarkers associated with severe dengue disease. During the study period blood samples from 6000 clinically suspected dengue patients were tested for presence of Dengue NS1 antigen and anti-dengue IgM by MAC ELISA and 2307 (38.5%) patients were positive. All the dengue positive patients were categorized into Dengue fever (DF), Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) using WHO definitions. DF was seen in maximum (54%) patients followed by DHF (40%) and DSS (6%). Majority of patients were in age group of 20-40 years, however complicated cases (DHF and DSS) were predominantly seen in young (< 20 years) male patients. There was no significant difference between DF cases and complicated cases in presentation with headache, high fever, vomiting; however complicated cases were significantly associated with abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, petechiae and rash, bleeding and encephalitis (with the highest percent among DSS). Platelet counts were significantly lower in both patients with DHF and DSS than DF, further they were also significantly lower in DSS than DHF. Abnormal liver functions (SGOT and SGPT) were increased in cases of DHF and DSS and lipid profile of patients showed that total cholesterol was low in all patients. Increased Triglycerides and decreased LDL correlated with DHF and DSS patients. Increased HDL was associated with favorable outcome. Dengue plasma viral load did not correlated with dengue disease severity and majority of complicated cases were seen in secondary dengue patients.