Risk Factors for Mortality in Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS)

Abstract

Background: Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is the most severe form of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and has a high mortality. There are two major pathological changes in DHF determining the severity of disease, plasma leakage and bleeding. Cytokines released during the immune response to dengue virus have been thought to be mediators of the process. Methods: The study involved 50 children with DSS, of whom 13 (26%) died. We investigated which clinical signs and laboratory findings are related to mortality. Results: We found that gastrointestinal bleeding and bilateral pleural effusion were significantly more frequent in non-survivors than in survivors (p<0.02 and p=0.0006, respectively). Also, mean admission levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TATc) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), activation markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis, respectively, were significantly higher in non-survivors (p=0.004 and p=0.0006, respectively). In regression analysis, bilateral pleural effusion and admission levels of TATc were significantly associated with mortality (p=0.007 and p=0.048, respectively). Conclusions: Our data provide evidence for a relationship of mortality with pleural effusion, a marker of plasma leakage, and coagulation activation, both characteristic pathological changes in dengue shock syndrome.