?? Paper of the day
Prashant Nasa
ICU Physician - Co-editor: Rational use of IV Fluids in Critically ill (link in bio)- PROVE Network - Delphi Methodology - Fluid and Oxygen are Drugs - X: @drnasap
Dengue induced acute liver failure: A meta summary of case reports
Published in World Journal of Virology
Summary:
The article is a meta-summary of case reports analyzing the demographic profile, symptomology, hospital course, and outcomes of patients presenting with acute liver failure (ALF) secondary to dengue infection. The study aimed to provide insights into the rare complication of dengue-induced ALF based on the review of published case reports.
?? takeaways:
1. The median age of patients with dengue-induced ALF was 38 years, with a female preponderance, and the median duration from dengue diagnosis to ALF development was 4.5 days.
2. The increase in AST (aspartate aminotransferase) was higher than that in ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and most patients required intensive care and organ support. However, the mortality rate was relatively low at 5.3%.
3. Management of dengue-induced ALF is largely supportive, and intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is being increasingly used, although its exact utility and timing of administration remain under study.
Counter arguments:
1. As this study is based on a meta-summary of case reports, the findings may be limited in terms of generalizability. They may not provide a comprehensive understanding of dengue-induced ALF.
2. The use of NAC in managing dengue-induced ALF has only been extrapolated from studies on other types of liver failure, and its exact effectiveness in this specific context may require further dedicated research.