Association of Dengue Severity with Host Biomarkers

Objective: To determine the association of dengue severity with various host biomarkers and clinical parameters. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Nowshehra Pakistan, from Sep to Dec 2022. Methodology: Patients of both genders who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were admitted for Dengue fever in this study. Sampling was done via a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Demographic and clinical information of patients was obtained. Biochemical investigations were monitored daily till the 10th day of illness. Results: One hundred patients were part of this study, out of which 66 were males and the rest were females. 07 patients had their platelet count above 150,000x109 while 13 had below 20,000 x109. Hematocrit was raised in 26 and low in 23. The rest of the tests showed high LDH (>1000U/L) in 19(19%), high CPK in 15(15%), high AST in 45, high ALT in 33 and deranged coagulation in 9% of patients. Clinically, 66% of patients had ascites, 18% had pleural effusion, and 10% had active bleeding. Ninety-seven patients recovered, while 3 died. Conclusion: We concluded that there is a significant association of dengue severity with host biomarkers like low platelets, elevated hematocrit, high transaminases, high LDH, CPK and deranged coagulation as well as clinical parameters like ascites, pleural effusion and active bleed.