Authors: Mario Galindo-Méndez, Alexis Gómez-Pardo, Benito González-Bourguet, Rosa Isela NicolásVelasco
Objective: The host immune response may be a key component in the development of complications of dengue fever. Vitamin D has been shown to function as a modulator of the inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to determine the possible association between serum levels of vitamin D (25-hidroxyvitamin D) and patients diagnosed with dengue without warning signs (DWWS).
Materials and Methods: The vitamin D (VD) serum concentrations of 41 patients with clinical symptoms of DWWS and either a positive IgM test against the virus or a positive NS1 viral antigen were measured and compared to the same number of sex an aged-matched healthy patients. Patients under vitamin supplementation were excluded from the study.
Results: Vitamin D concentrations were found to be significantly lower in dengue patients (p < 0.050), median value 18.09 mg/dL, as compared to healthy controls, 21.14 mg/dL, particularly in female patients. Additionally, when the prevalence of patients with DWWS was analyzed comparing quintiles of serum VD concentrations of all patients included in the study and using the VD cut points suggested by the Endocrine Society, such prevalence increased as the VD concentrations decreased.
Conclusion: The results of the present study suggests that patients with low concentrations of vitamin D might be at higher risk for the development of DWWS, particularly female patients.
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