Dextran Fractional Clearance Studies in Acute Dengue Infection
2011

Dextran Clearance Studies in Acute Dengue Infection

Sample size: 31 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Julie Nguyen-Pouplin, Thomas Pouplin, Pham Van Toi, Dinh The Trung, Thi Dung Nguyen, Jeremy Farrar, Tinh Hien Tran, Bridget Wills

Primary Institution: Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Hypothesis

What are the characteristics of vascular leak associated with dengue?

Conclusion

The study found no difference in dextran clearance profiles between dengue patients and healthy volunteers, suggesting that the technique may not be suitable for assessing permeability in dengue patients.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study involved 15 dengue patients and 16 healthy controls.
  • All patients had evidence of vascular leakage but did not develop shock.
  • No differences in dextran clearance profiles were found between groups.

Takeaway

The researchers looked at how a substance called dextran moves in people with dengue fever and found that it behaves the same way in both sick and healthy people, which was surprising.

Methodology

The study involved serial dextran clearance studies in 15 dengue patients and 16 healthy controls, measuring how dextran moved in their bodies over time.

Limitations

The study did not measure clearances of endogenous proteins prior to the dextran clearance studies, which limits understanding of baseline protein losses.

Participant Demographics

15 male dengue patients aged 18-30 and 16 healthy male volunteers aged 23-28.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pntd.0001282

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