Controversies in dengue pathogenesis.
Research into the pathogenesis of dengue fever has exploded over the last half-century, with issues that were considered simple becoming more complex as additional data are found. This has led to the development of a number of controversies that are being studied across the globe and  debated in the literature. In this paper, the following six controversies are analysed and, where possible, resolved: the 1997 World Health Organization (WHO) case definition of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is not useful; DHF is not significantly associated with secondary dengue infection;  DHF results from infection with a 'virulent' dengue virus; DHF is owing to abnormal T-cell responses; DHF results from auto-immune responses; and DHF results from direct infection of endothelial cells.
Dengue Vaccine Initiative, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Korea. halsteads@erols.com
Scott B
SB
Halstead
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*