Clinical case definitions for Argentine hemorrhagic fever

Clin Infect Dis. 1999 May;28(5):1091-4. doi: 10.1086/514749.

Abstract

Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF) is a potentially lethal infection in Argentina. The case-fatality ratio is >15%, but treatment reduces the mortality rate to <1%. Diagnosis is based on clinical and laboratory criteria, but no case definition has been validated. A chart review was conducted for patients hospitalized with suspected AHF. Individuals with a fourfold rise in antibody titer were classified as cases. The combination of a platelet count of <100,000/mm3 and a white blood cell (WBC) count of <2,500/mm3 had a sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 88%, respectively, thus suggesting that the use of these criteria in a case definition would be helpful for epidemiological studies of AHF. The combination of a platelet count of <100,000/mm3 and a WBC count of <4,000/mm3 had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 71%; the use of these criteria in a case definition should be helpful for screening patients for therapy with immune plasma in the region where AHF is endemic.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Arenaviridae Infections / blood
  • Arenaviridae Infections / diagnosis*
  • Argentina
  • Female
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, American / blood
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, American / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Junin virus / immunology
  • Junin virus / isolation & purification*
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Platelet Count
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral