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Biomédica

Print version ISSN 0120-4157

Biomédica vol.32 no.2 Bogotá Apr./June 2012

 

CARTAS AL EDITOR

Serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in dengue

Sir,

The recent report on serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in dengue is very interesting (1). There are some facts to be discussed. First, the serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity can be affected by several confounding factors such as other concurrent illness, e.g. hypertension and atherosclerosis diseases (2). Second, the day of sample collection is important. It is reported that the serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase can be increased in acute febrile phase and is rapidly decreased in convalescent phase (2).

Professor Viroj Wiwanitkit

Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, Bangkok Thailand

References

1. Restrepo BN, Arboleda M, Ramirez R, Alvarez G. Serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in dengue patients of African or mestizo descendency. Biomedica. 2011;31:599-607.         [ Links ]

2. Chen CH. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase: Is it good or bad for you? Curr Opin Lipidol. 2004;15:337-41.         [ Links ]

3. Seet RC, Lee CY, Lim EC, Quek AM, Yeo LL, Huang SH, Halliwell B. Oxidative damage in dengue fever. Free Radic Biol Med. 2009;47:375-80.         [ Links ]

Medellín, June 21st, 2012

Professor

Viroj Wiwanitkit

Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, Bangkok Thailand

Dear Professor Wiwanitkit:

In response to your observations, we have the following comments:

1) In relation to “There are some facts to be discussed. First, the serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity can be affected by several confounding factors such as other concurrent illness, e.g. hypertension and atherosclerosis diseases (2)”.

Answer. In our study only one patient had hypertension, but other diseases such as atherosclerosis were not studied. However, our patients were young, with a median age of 23 and 11 years in mestizo and afro-descendant patients, respectively.

2) In relation to “The day of sample collection is important. It is reported that the serum plateletactivating factor acetylhydrolase can be increased in acute febrile phase and is rapidly decreased in convalescent phase (2)”.

Answer. For detection of PAF-AH activity, we obtained serum sample daily for five days after enrollment. The five days of study occurred during Day 1, and Day 13 of the onset of fever, this period was considered to be the acute phase. Other serum samples were obtained after Day 13 until Day 21.

This period was considered to be the convalescent phase. Note: It is described in page 601, column two, last paragraph.

Our results show that serum activity of PAFAH was higher in the acute phase than in the convalescence phase for all patients (0.788±0.485 vs. 0.768±0.428, p=0.194). Note: It is described in page 602, column two, third paragraph. This result was similar to that found by Seet, et al., 2009. This author was referenced in our paper (reference 43). The role of PAF-AH is still unknown and further studies are needed in this line of research to help clarifying this important issue.

Thank you for your contribution.

Berta Nelly Restrepo

Researcher

Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical- Universidad CES Medellín, Colombia