title: The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of viral hemorrhagic fevers.
abstract: Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) are acute zoonotic diseases that, early on, seem to cause platelet destruction or dysfunction. Here we present the four major ways viruses affect platelet development and function and new evidence of molecular factors that are preferentially induced by the more pathogenic members of the families Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae, Arenaviridae, and Filoviridae. A systematic search was performed through the main medical electronic databases using as parameters all current findings concerning platelets in VHF. Additionally, the review contains information from conference proceedings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics School of Pharmacy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Dermot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Salvato
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D006482:Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000502:physiology*