Dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) in children is reliably associated with the presence of dengue antibody--actively or passively acquired--before the onset of illness. Limited observations by electron microscopy and fluorescent antibody testing and the recovery of virus from tissues obtained at autopsy show that dengue viruses are consistently associated with cells of mononuclear phagocyte lineage. In particular, virus is associated with Kupffer cells, pulmonary macrophages, and mononuclear cells in skin and blood. Endothelial cells fail to demonstrate necrosis or inflammatory changes. Since acute vascular permeability, shock, and hemorrhage occur late in illness, a plausible hypothesis is that phlogistic factors, resulting from interactions with elements of the immune response, are released from virus-infected mononuclear phagocytes. Such phenomena as generalized depression of mitotic activity of bone marrow cells, destruction of mature polymorphonuclear leukocytes, complement activation, and abnormal hemostasis may serve as markers of these phlogistic factors. It will be of interest to establish whether other viral hemorrhagic fevers involve the same target cells as in DHF/DSS and are mediated by similar effector mechanisms.

Antibody, Macrophages, Dengue Virus Infection, Shock, and Hemorrhage: A Pathogenetic Cascade

Dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) are caused by the dengue virus. The major pathophysiological hallmark that distinguishes DHF from DF is plasma leakage as a result of increased vascular permeability. Following this leakage, hypovolaemic shock occurs as a consequence of a critical plasma volume loss. Constant haematological abnormalities occurring in DHF and frequently include bone marrow suppression, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. An enhanced immune response of the host to a secondary DV infection is a feature of DHF and leads to many consequences. These are immune complex formation, complement activation, increased histamine release and a massive release of many cytokines into the circulation, leading to shock, vasculopathy, thrombopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The mechanisms underlying the bleeding in DHF are multiple. These are vasculopathy, thrombopathy and DIC. Thrombopathy consists of thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction. DIC is prominent in patients with shock. The most severe DIC and massive bleeding are the result of prolonged shock and cause a fatal outcome. The mechanisms of thrombopathy and DIC and the proper management of DHF are reviewed and discussed.

Haematology in dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is characterized by a sudden onset of fever that lasts for 2-7 days and then subsides, at which time hemorrhagic manifestations become evident. Sometimes there is an associated form of hypovolemic shock known as dengue shock syndrome. There are usually significant changes in the liver, the reticuloendothelial system, and the vascular system (e.g., necrosis of liver cells and focal hemorrhage, increase in turnover of lymphocytes, and diapedesis of erythrocytes through vessel walls). Because of the lack of pathologic findings in major organs and the rapid recovery (without sequelae) of survivors, physiologic dysfunction is thought to be secondary to the action of biologic mediators that are capable of producing severe illness with minimal structural injury.

Hemostatic Defects in Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Dengue virus causes a febrile illness: Dengue fever (DF), and less frequently a life-threatening illness: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Although severe bleeding remains a major cause of death in DHF, the pathogenesis of bleeding is poorly understood. This prospective cohort study was designed to determine the extent of activation of endothelial cells and the hemostatic system in correlation with clinical severity, and also to detect the best prognostic factor(s) for DHF. Endothelial cell activation, coagulation, anticoagulant and fibrinolysis parameters were measured in 42 children with Dengue infections (20 with DF and 22 with DHF) during three phases of illness. In DHF patients, during the febrile phase, von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), tissue factor (TF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) were significantly elevated, while platelet counts and ADAMTS 13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin repeats) were significantly low compared to DF patients. During the toxic phase, soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and PAI-1 were also significantly increased, while ADAMTS 13 and thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa) were significantly low compared to DF patients. Abnormal vWF multimers were seen only in DHF patients. For endothelial cell injury and release of procoagulant components, activation of the coagulation cascade with thrombin generation, increased antifibrinolytic factors and consumption of natural anticoagulants, each appeared to play an important role in the development of hemorrhage in Dengue patients. Using logistic regression analysis, we found plasma VWF:Ag to be the best indicator of progression to DHF.

Activation of endothelial cells, coagulation and fibrinolysis in children with Dengue virus infection

Despite efforts to elucidate the pathogenesis of dengue fever, the progression into severe disease remains poorly understood. In-vitro findings suggest that coagulopathy and disturbances in fibrinolysis have a pivotal role in the pathophysiology. If disturbances in these processes are predictive of clinical outcome in this disease, there could be important consequences for both diagnosis and treatment. We have critically reviewed publications on this topic to assess whether there is an association between activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis and clinical outcome of dengue-virus infections. In general, the selected studies showed activation of both the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in this infection. The activation was more pronounced in severe infections and in cases with a poor clinical outcome. However, the findings were not consistent, and owing to a lack of detailed information on characteristics of patients, disease, and study design, we could not ascertain whether inconsistencies were caused by differences in these characteristics, selection bias, or confounding factors. We conclude that an association between activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis and clinical outcome of dengue-virus infections is conceivable but has been inadequately assessed and that methodologically sound studies, complemented with complete and reliable reporting, are needed to show whether there is a true association.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473-3099(03)00487-0.pdf

Alkarawong K

Papers

Disseminated intravascular coagulation in adult Dengue haemorrhagic fever: Report of three cases.