Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Dengue and leptospirosis infection during the coronavirus 2019 outbreak in Sri Lanka(Oxford University Press, 2021) Niriella, M.A.; Ediriweera, D.S.; de Silva, A.P.; Premaratna, B.A.H.R.; Jayasinghe, S.; de Silva, H.J.ABSTRACT: A significant decrease in dengue fever cases and a contrasting increase in leptospirosis cases were reported for the second quarter of 2020 compared with 2019 in Sri Lanka. In the absence of significant environmental and weather-related differences to account for these changes in incidence, we investigated the possibility that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health, social behaviour and the restrictions imposed during the lockdown influenced the fluctuations in dengue and leptospirosis infections. KEYWORDS: COVID-19; dengue fever; leptospirosis; pandemic; tropical infections.Item A study to determine quantitative predictors for development of third space fluid accumulation in adult patients with dengue(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2012) Premaratna, R.; Ragupathy, A.; Miththinda, J.K.N.D.; de Silva, H.J.INTRODUCTION: Prediction of severe illness remains the most important measure in preventing mortality associated with dengue. Increased vascular permeability leading to reduced intravascular volume is the hallmark of dengue shock syndrome. Third space fluid accumulation (TSFA) reflects severe vascular permeability and therefore, it is important to quantitatively identify parameters which predict the occurrence of TSFA in dengue. METHODS:102 patients with confirmed dengue were prospectively followed up for clinical, haematological, biochemical parameters and for evidence of TSFA by serial utrasonography. These parameters were tested against development of TSFA using Receiver Operating Characteristic [ROC] curves to identify quantitative predictors of development of TSFA. RESULTS: 102 patients (52 males) with mean age 28.3 years (SD 11.8), TSFA was detected in 34/95 [36%) after admission; 21/95 developed ascites at mean 5.7 days of illness (SD 1.3) and 33/95 had pleural effusion at 5.4 days (SD 1.5). Onset of TSFA could be identified using percentage rises of highest PCV (p= 0.002) where 6.5% rise of PCV predicted TSFA(sensitivity 61%, specificity 62%)], highest Hb (p=0.017) where rise of 6.1% in Hb predicted TSFA (sensitivity 55%, specificity 64%), lowest recorded platelet count (p<0.000) where platelet count of 48500/mm3 or less predicted TSFA (sensitivity of 83%, specificity 51) post-admission fluid input-output balance per day (p 0.002) where positive balance more than 777cc/day predicted TSFA (sensitivity 65%, specificity 64%). CONCLUSIONS: Rise of PCV and Hb, platelet count, WBC count and daily fluid balance appear to be useful quantitative predictors of TSFA in dengue.Item Developing a severity index on day 4 to predict severe dengue infection in adults(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2012) Wijewantha, H.S.; Premaratna, R.; Nishad, A.A.N.; Mabharana, I.D.M.; de Silva, A.P.; Waraketiya, P.R.; Niriella, M.A.; de Silva, H.J.INTRODUCTION: Dengue causes high morbidity and mortality among adults in Sri Lanka. Early prediction of severe illness would help to reduce morbidity and mortality. Studies to identify predictors of severe dengue in adults are sparse. AIMS: To identify predictors of severe dengue infection by the fourth day of illness. Methods: Symptoms, signs and investigation results on the 4th day of illness were compared between two groups of patients with serologically confirmed dengue over 6 months from 1st of March 2011; Group A (severe illness: evidence of fluid leakage, compensated shock, profound shock). Group B (non-severe illness). RESULTS: Of 117 adults 9meanage 32 yrs (SD= 13.3) and 95 males) 27 fell into Group A and 90 into group B. On day 4 of illness serum aminotransferases (AST and ALT) were significantly higher in Group A than group B [AST: 260 iu/1 (SD=168.8] vs 145 iu/l(SD 135.11), p=0.005; ALT: 247 iu/1 (SD= 161.5) vs 105 iu/1 (SD= 91.5), p=0.002]. Overall AST (r=0.3, p=0.038) and ALT (r=0.3, p=0.045) had a positive correlation with haematocrit (PCV). An index was developed using stepwi-se multivariate discriminant function analysis to predict severe infection by the 4th day. A severity Index, [(0.082 x PCVD4) + (0.02 x PlateIetD4) + (-0.006 x ASTD4) -3.677] of <-0.258 predicted severe infection with 73.7 % specificity, 73.8% sensitivity, 56% positive predictive value and 86% negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: A severity index <-0.258 calculated on the 4th day of illness may predict severe infection among adult dengue patients. This must now be validated prospectively.Item Viral characteristics and genomics of early onset, single organ specific presentations in dengue(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2013) Premaratna, R.; Perera, H.K.K.; Chan, K.H.; Yeung, M.F.; Mettananda, C.; Peiris, J.S.M.; de Silva, H.J.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Early onset neurological, hepatic and cardiac complications of dengue are increasingly recognized. However, doubts exist as to whether such complications of dengue are consequences of dengue shock syndrome rather than direct organ involvement. We studied virus characteristics and their genomics in patients who presented with early onset single organ involvement due to dengue, without features of DSS. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at admission of seven patients, who presented to the Professorial Medical Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital Ragama during 2011-2012, confirmed as having acute dengue by PCR. Samples were analysed with single-tube, nested RT-PCR using type-specific primers. Viral RNA was extracted and sequencing was performed. The dengue virus sequences were aligned with other sequences that are available in the GenBank and maximum-likelihood (ML) tree was made. RESULTS: Early onset organ specific manifestations included; self-limiting fits and clouding of consciousness on the 2nd day, rise in AST (1337iu/L) and ALT (749iu/L) on the 4th day and T wave inversions in the ECG on the 3rd day. Seven Dengue 1 viruses were isolated, which were in close homology in all 7 patients, based on the maximum likelihood tree with 1000 boot-straps. CONCLUSIONS: All the strains detected were clustered within the Genotype I clade of dengue-1 and in close homology with the dengue-1 viruses detected in the country in the recent past. The significance of viral characteristics and genomics related to organ specific manifestations need further study.Item Effectiveness of single dose intravenous methyl prednisolone in reversing on going vascular leakage in dengue(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2013) Premaratna, R.; Abeyrathna, C.; de Alwis, K.; de Silva, H.A.; de Silva, H.J.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Non-resolution of vascular leakage within 48 hours in dengue shock syndrome (DSS) can result in complications in the recovery phase due to fluid overload. It can also result in death in 0.5-5%. No medication is known to reverse the ongoing vascular leakage. METHODS: Single dose intravenous methyl prednisolone (SDIVMP) was administered to 11 consecutive PCR confirmed adult patients who had ongoing high fever on the 5th day of illness and evidence of plasma leakage; significant rise in Hb, PCV, AST levels and confirmation of fluid leakage by ultrasonography. Informed written consent was obtained from all patients prior to administering SDIVMP. RESULTS: 7/11 were males. Mean age was 24 years (SD 8). At the time of administering SDIVMP; median rise of Hb 9% (5-12), PCV 12%(10-19), absolute rise of AST from 56 iu/L(24-68) to 678iu/L (320-1034) and drop in platelets from 123xl09/L (96-165) to 32xl09/L (15-56). After administration of SDIVMP in all patients, fever reduced rapidly within one hour and there was no further clinical deterioration, rise in Hb, PCV, AST or worsening of ascites or pleura! effusions. However in 5 patients platelet counts continued to drop to < 10x10 /L over the next 2-3 days. None of the patients developed sepsis, abnormal sugars or any other complications such as sepsis, or abnormalities in glucose control. CONCLUSIONS: SDIVMP was effective in reversing fluid leakage in dengue. These findings support the conduct of a double blind placebo controlled trial.