Profile of liver involvement in dengue virus infection.
BACKGROUND
Data are scarce on liver involvement in adult patients with dengue virus infection.


METHODS
During a recent outbreak of dengue fever in Uttar Pradesh, India, we looked for evidence of liver dysfunction among patients with dengue fever.


RESULTS
A total of 45 patients with dengue fever (age 7-65 [median 33] years; 29 men; 39 adults) were studied, including 23 with uncomplicated dengue fever, 15 with dengue haemorrhagic fever and 7 with dengue shock syndrome. The median platelet count was 34 x 10(9)/L (9-99 x 10(9)). Seven patients (15%) had jaundice, 11 (24%) hepatomegaly and 9 clinically detectable ascites; none had splenomegaly. Twelve patients (30%) had hyperbilirubinaemia. Serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities were elevated in 43 patients (96%) each; 5-fold elevated levels were more frequent in severe disease. Hypoalbuminaemia was found in 31/41 patients (76%). Seven patients died, including 2 with acute liver failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that liver injury is common in adult patients with dengue infection. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism of liver injury in this disease.
Itha
Srivenu
S
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow 226014, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Kashyap
Rajesh
R
Krishnani
Narendra
N
Saraswat
Vivek A
VA
Choudhuri
Gourdas
G
Aggarwal
Rakesh
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003715:Dengue / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged