Levels of Angiopoietin 2 Are Predictive for Mortality in Patients Infected With Yellow Fever Virus
Cornelia A. M. van de Weg, Mateus Vailant Thomazella, Mariana Prado Marmorato, Carolina Argondizo Correia, Juliana Zanatta de Carvalho Dias, Alvino Maestri, Luiz G F A B E Zanella, Natália B. Cerqueira, Alvina Clara Félix, Carlos Henrique Valente Moreira, Renata Buccheri, Priscilla R. Costa, Esper G. Kallás
Abstract
In 2018 there was a large yellow fever outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil, with a high fatality rate. Yellow fever virus can cause, among other symptoms, hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation, indicating a role for endothelial cells in disease pathogenesis. Here, we conducted a case-control study and measured markers related to endothelial damage in plasma and its association with mortality. We found that angiopoietin 2 is strongly associated with a fatal outcome and could serve as a predictive marker for mortality. This could be used to monitor severe cases and provide care to improve disease outcome.