Control of Massive Bleeding in Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever with Severe Thrombocytopenia by Use of KhamRho IV Anti D®.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a potentially lethal complication of mosquito borne viral disease, Dengue Fever. Thrombocytopenia is a constant finding in DHF/Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). The cause of thrombocytopenia is not clearly understood and may be due to decreased platelet production, increased peripheral destruction, or both. IV Anti-D is currently licensed to treat immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) in pediatric or adult patients. Unlike other disease states, which may produce ITP, the thrombocytopenia associated with DHF has an acute onset and a high mortality rate if untreated. Use of Intravenous anti D (IV anti-D) for such bleeding has not been documented in the literature which prompted these descriptions

Method: We report 2 cases that fulfilled the WHO criteria of DHF: high fever, bleeding, positive tourniquet test, severe thrombocytopenia (<10,000 /mm³) and hemoconcentration (Hematocrit increase> 20%).

Case 1: 14-year-old boy was admitted with DHF and hypotension. He was stabilized after a normal saline (NS) bolus and continued on intravenous fluids @3ml/kg/hr. On day 3 of admission he again became hypotensive that responded to NS bolus and increased fluid rate of 5 ml/kg/hr. On day 4 child developed respiratory distress had to be ventilated in view of associated hypotension and deteriorating general condition. Echocardiogram showed global hypokinesia with Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction of 43% so started on inotropes. Few hours later he developed massive pulmonary hemorrhage. The pulmonary hemorrhage continued despite giving 42 units of platelets, 10 units of FFP and 3 units of aphaeresis. Platelet count remained less than 10,000 / mm³ despite repeated platelet transfusions. Recombinant Activated factor VII was given at a dose of 90 ug/kg which corrected coagulation profile to normal but hemorrhage still persisted. KhamRho IV Anti D® 50ug/kg was administered after which child showed dramatic response and bleeding stopped after 4 hr and platelets increased to 30,000 after 6 hr. Over next 48 hrs platelet count rose further. He was gradually weaned off the inotropes and ventilatory support.

Case 2: 5-year-old girl admitted with DHF. On admission she was hypotensive and was having massive gastrointestinal bleed. She was given crystalloids/colloids and later started on dopamine infusion. She was intubated in view of deteriorating general condition and hemodynamic instability. She was managed as per the guidelines of dengue shock syndrome after which her hemodynamic status improved but bleeding continued for which she received 16 units of platelet concentrate, 1 unit aphaeresis along with 4 units of FFP and 1 unit cryoprecipitate in view of deranged coagulation profile. Platelet count remained less than 10,000 / mm³ despite platelet transfusion. Despite all these measures her bleeding continued thus a trial of activated factor VII 90 ug/kg two doses 1 hour apart was given but still bleeding persisted. KhamRho IV Anti D®50ug /kg single dose was administered after which child blood pressure stabilized and bleeding stopped after 3 hr. Platelet counts improved and she was gradually weaned off the inotropes and ventilatory support.

Conclusion: The response observed in these patients demonstrates that the massive bleeding due to thrombocytopenia associated with DHF responds rapidly to treatment with IV Anti-D. There were no serious adverse events observed in both the patients.