Serum lipid profile in dengue patients: a simple laboratory tool to predict disease severity

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Serum lipids play a pivotal role in the immune response of the host during dengue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum lipid abnormalities in dengue patients and to study the relationship between serum lipids with disease severity and platelet count. \n\xa0 \nMaterials and Methods: This case control study was carried out in 75 cases of dengue of age group > 18 years divided into three groups namely dengue without warning symptoms (DNWS), dengue with warning symptoms (DWWS) and severe dengue (SD) and 75 age and gender matched healthy controls. Lipid parameters such as total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were thereafter measured in all the subjects. \n\xa0 \nResults: Among 75 patients with dengue fever, 52 (69.4%) were classified as DNWS, 15 (20%) as DWWS and the remaining 8 (10.6%) as SD. Lower levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) levels (118.8 + 30.71) (p <0.0001) were observed among patients with DNWS when compared to controls. A strong significant positive correlation was seen between the platelets and serum HDL cholesterol levels among the subjects with SD (r = 0.712, p=.047*) and weak negative correlation was observed between the platelets and triglycerides in patients with dengue with warning signs (r = -0.275, p=.048*). \n\xa0 \nConclusion: We observed a strong association of diminished TC, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels with the severity of dengue. Based on our findings, these three lipid parameters could be utilized as a simple laboratory tool to identify dengue severity in resource limited settings.