Prevalence of dengue maculopathy in patients hospitalized for dengue fever.
OBJECTIVE
Dengue fever causes numerous systemic manifestations, including maculopathy, with loss of vision. This study sought to determine the prevalence of dengue maculopathy in patients hospitalized with dengue fever.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study in which consecutive patients hospitalized with dengue fever during a dengue epidemic were enrolled over a 3-week period.


METHODS
Patients hospitalized in 2 general hospitals in Singapore with dengue fever.


METHODS
Patients completed a standardized questionnaire and underwent tests for near and distance visual acuity (VA), Amsler grid testing, dilated retinal examination, serum complements C3 and C4, and urinary microalbumin.


METHODS
Dengue maculopathy found on retinal examination.


RESULTS
One hundred ninety-seven patients were enrolled, of whom 119 (60.4%) were male and 78 (39.6%) female. The patients ranged between 12 and 67 years old (mean, 32.65). One hundred sixty of 197 patients had positive dengue immunoglobulin M serology. Dengue maculopathy was detected in 27 eyes of 16 of the seropositive patients, giving a prevalence of 10% (95% confidence interval, 6.03%-15.40%). None of the patients who were dengue immunoglobulin M negative had dengue maculopathy. Dengue maculopathy eyes were more likely to have distance acuity worse than logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 0.15 (Snellen 6/9 or worse) (P = 0.005) and abnormalities on Amsler grid testing (P = 0.001), with a greater proportion of these patients having visual complaints (P = 0.002) and lower mean complement C3 levels (P = 0.008) as compared with patients without maculopathy. Logistic regression analysis showed Amsler grid abnormalities to be the most consistent factor associated with dengue-related maculopathy (P<0.001), with a hazard ratio of 8.669; sensitivity, 29.6%; and specificity, 95.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of dengue maculopathy among patients hospitalized for dengue fever is 10% in our series. Amsler grid abnormalities, reduced distance VA, and the presence of visual symptoms are associated with dengue maculopathy. Low complement C3 levels in these patients suggest that this is an immune-mediated disease.
Su
Daniel Hsien-Wen
DH
Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
Bacsal
Kristine
K
Chee
Soon-Phaik
SP
Flores
John Vincent Policarpio
JV
Lim
Wee-Kiak
WK
Cheng
Bobby Ching-Li
BC
Jap
Aliza Hee-Eng
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity
D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4