Patients for analysis of serial changes in LTE4 levels and diurnal variations
In order to assess the kinetics of LTE4 throughout the course of illness, we recruited 48 patients with varying severity of acute dengue and obtained serial blood and urine samples daily in the morning (9am), throughout the course of illness. In addition, as we earlier found that there was a diurnal variation in platelet activating factor (PAF) in 2 cohorts of patients (9, 13), we further recruited 22 patients (14 who had DF and 8 with DHF), to assess possible diurnal changes in LTE4 levels in the morning (9 a.m.) and the afternoon (3 p.m.). We had to recruit a different cohort to explore the diurnal variation of LTE4 and viral loads as the same cohort of patients did not consent to be bled twice a day due to the frequent bleeding of these patients (four times a day), as a part of their dengue management.