CASE SERIES OF LASSA FEVER PATIENTS WITH ADVERSE OUTCOMES DESPITE HIGHER CT VALUES

Abstract

Lassa fever is endemic to West Africa. It is associated with an acute hemorrhagic illness. It is diagnosed through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in which low cycle threshold (Ct) values correspond to high viral load. This paper describes a case series of two patients in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria (Infection Control and Research Centre, Federal Medical Centre), a National Reference Centre for viral hemorrhagic fever. These cases were confirmed by RC-67 and RC-69 Lazzaro, RC-67, and RC-69 Lazzaro, and RC-67 and RC-69 Lazzaro. We collated clinical and laboratory data as well as the sociodemographic data of the two patients. Both patients were treated in accordance with the guidelines, which include the use of intravenous ribavirin, supportive therapy, and transmission. The first case was a 45-year-old male with CT values of 32.817 (G) and 31.374 (L) who suffered acute kidney injury, haemorrhage, and died 8 days after admission. In the second scenario, a 37-year-old male patient presented with acute kidney injury and viral encephalitis, and was unable to survive 4 days post a session of hemodialysis. His Ct values of 35.88 and 36.25 could suggest the possibility of a poor clinical outcome, albeit the higher Ct value. This shows that viral load is not a complete determinant of the illness's severity. Other factors, such as host attributes, viral heterogeneity, immune dysregulation, possibly late treatment, and others, could significantly influence the illness's course and outcome.