Abstract

Objective: To study the relationship between expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum samples and dengue virus (DV) infection in Pakistani population. Methods: This study involved three different groups, namely, DV2-infected DF patients (n = 30), DHF patients (n = 30) and healthy subjects (n = 30). Quantification of IL-6 expression in human serum samples among all the three groups from Pakistan was done by ELISA method. Other demographic findings, clinical parameters and symptoms were recorded and reported in the study. Results: IL-6 expression in DHF group (mean value = 523.23 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in DF group (mean value = 88.83 pg/mL) and healthy subjects (mean value = 6.72 pg/ mL). Our data suggested that IL-6 level was considerably elevated (P < 0.01) with severe DV infection leading to fatal outcome in DHF patients as compared to DF and control group. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the up-regulation of IL-6 has a significant role towards DHF, suggesting it as a prognostic marker for severe DV infection.

Authors and Affiliations