Title:Dengue Patients Treated with Doxycycline Showed Lower Mortality Associated to a Reduction in IL-6 and TNF Levels
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Author(s): Terry M. Fredeking, Jorge E. Zavala-Castro, Pedro Gonzalez-Martinez, William Moguel-Rodríguez, Ernesto C. Sanchez, Michael J. Foster and Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Cytokines, dengue, doxycycline, mortality.
Abstract: Objective: To determine the effect of doxycycline treatment on cytokine levels, including tumor
necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and mortality in dengue patients at high risk of complication.
Methods: A group of dengue hemorrhagic fever patients (n=231) were randomized to receive either standard
supportive care or supportive care in addition to oral doxycycline twice daily for 7 days. Dengue virus infection
was confirmed by PCR using multiple primers. Serum samples were obtained at days 0, 3, 5 and 7 and
tested for levels of TNF and IL-6.
Results: Doxycycline-treated group presented a 46% lower mortality than that observed in the untreated
group (11.2% [13/116] vs 20.9% [24/115], respectively, p=0.05). Moreover, administration of doxycycline
resulted in a significant (p<0.01) decrease in levels of TNF and IL-6 versus controls in the tests performed
during follow-up (day 3, 5 and 7). Patients who died in both groups possessed significantly (p<0.01) higher
levels of TNF and IL-6 compared to those who survived at all-time points.
Conclusion: The above findings suggest that doxycycline can provide a clinical benefit to dengue patients at
high risk of complications. This effect could be mediated by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.
