Promising
biomarkers which may help predict the risk of developing
severe dengue virus infection (DVI) are lacking and will be helpful. Thus the main aim of this study was to analyze the role of cell-derived microparticles (MP) in DVI. Sixty patients with DVI i.e. 18:
dengue with warning signs (DWS); 1: DSS and 41:
dengue without warning signs (DWOS); along with 15 controls (other febrile illness) were included in the study. The following MPs were assessed: annexinV, platelet (CD41a), red blood cell (RBC) (CD235a) and activated endothelial (CD62e) MPs. Patients with profound
thrombocytopenia without
bleeding had statistically elevated platelet MP (PMP) levels when compared to patients with profound
thrombocytopenia with
bleeding (p < .001). RBC MPs were found to be significantly elevated in the 2nd phase in patient with DWS which was seen earliest on day 4 of
infection with a cut off of ≥2200 MPs/μl when compared to patients with DWOS (p < .0001). PMPs may prove to be a promising novel
biomarker which helps discriminate patients in need of prophylactic
platelet transfusion from those who do not. RBC MPs, on the other hand could be potential
biomarkers capable of identifying potentially severe patients who require immediate care. Thus, MPs seem to be a promising important
biomarker in many aspects of DVI.