title: Randomized clinical trial of human interleukin-11 in Dengue fever-associated thrombocytopenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of recombinant human (rh) IL-11 to increase platelets count in patients suffering from Dengue fever (DF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized double blind placebo control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Farooq Hospital, Lahore, from July to October 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty hospitalized patients suffering from Dengue fever having platelets count ² 30000 per micro liter were randomly categorized into two groups, rhIL-11 (test) and distilled water (placebo) groups. The efficacy outcomes (as indicated by step up in platelets count at 48 hours) for the treatment group were compared with the outcomes for the placebo group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data revealed that the increase in platelet response with recombinant human interleukin 11, 1.5 mg subcutaneously is significantly more brisk than the placebo group. The platelets response in patients with severe thrombocytopenia was greater in the treatment group (50%) at 48 hours as compared to the placebo group (20%) (p=0.047). Response rate was slightly greater among males (6/10, 60%) than females (8/16, 50%); moreover, three-fourth (75%) female responders were in the placebo group, compared to half (50%) male responders in the treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the study suggest that treatment of severe thrombocytopenia accompanying DF with recombinant human interleukin11 may be a useful therapeutic option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Imran
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Suliman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, Rehman Medical College, Peshawar.
authors.forename: Iftikhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Qayum
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Akhter Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore.
authors.forename: Farooq
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saeed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003715:Dengue / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017370:Interleukin-11