title: The role of heparan sulphate in pathogenesis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral infection typically transmitted by tick bite. This study is to define the level of heparan sulphate (HS) in serum/urine since HS may play a role in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic events in the patients with CCHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the patient group consisted of 79 cases with a positive diagnosis of CCHF according to PCR/ELISA outcome among the patients referred to Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine in 2010. A total of 81 volunteers who had not any viral or metabolic disease were enrolled as the control group. The blood samples were centrifuged, and the serum and urine samples obtained were stored at - 80°C until they were studied. Then, these samples were simultaneously dissolved, and HS level was spectrophotometrically measured using glycosaminoglycans specific 1- 9, dimethyl-methylene blue (DMMB) stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant increase in the HSserum values was found both in the individuals under and above 16 yr old in the patient groups compared to the controls (p <0.05). Also there was a statistically significant increase in the urine levels of HS in the cases >16 yr old compared to the controls (p <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increase of the serum/urine levels of HS was though to be due to vascular endothelium damage and to liver injury as well as vascular endothelium damage in the patients who died. Further, comprehensive studies are needed to demonstrate whether the serum/urine levels of HS are correlated to liver and vascular endothelium damage and prognosis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Swas, Turkey. mutlukukul@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fatma Mutlu Kukul
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Aynur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engin
authors.forename: V Kenan
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Bahri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atli
authors.forename: Dilara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Icagasioglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000473:pathology*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006497:Heparan Sulfate