The role of vascular endothelial growth factor leading to vascular leakage in children with dengue virus infection.
Increased vascular permeability is the main aetiology for hypovolaemic shock and circulatory failure in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of DHF.


METHODS
Serum samples from 41 patients [15 dengue fever (DF), 26 DHF] with serologically confirmed dengue virus infection during the febrile, toxic, convalescent stages and at follow-up were analysed for VEGF. Plasma samples from an additional 27 children (16 DF and 11 DHF) during the febrile, toxic stages and at 4-week follow-up and from eight healthy controls were analysed for VEGF.


RESULTS
Serum and plasma VEGF levels were not elevated during the febrile or toxic stages of dengue virus infection and did not differ between patients with DF and DHF.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma leakage in patients with DHF cannot be explained by elevation of VEGF during the toxic stage of the illness.
Sathupan
Patcharapa
P
Department of Paediatrics, Thammasat University, Patumthani, Thailand.
Khongphattanayothin
Apichai
A
Srisai
Jirabat
J
Srikaew
Karakade
K
Poovorawan
Yong
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A