Effect of doxycycline and doxycycline with carica papaya on thrombocytopenia and leucopenia in acute dengue fever patients

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever is a mosquito borne disease commonly manifest leucopoenia and thrombocytopenia. Dengue fever and its complications like bleeding manifestation can be life threatening. This study was conducted to study the effect of doxycycline and doxycycline with carica papaya on thrombocytopenia and leucopoenia in acute dengue fever patients. Methods: This case control study was conducted amongst the patients suffering from dengue fever with thrombocytopenia. Cases were dengue patients with thrombocytopenia and leucopenia both. Controls were dengue patients with thrombocytopenia with normal leukocyte count. An effect of doxycycline and doxycycline with carica papaya was observed on platelet and leukocyte counts at baseline and first, second, fourth, and seventh day in cases and comparison was done. Results: The maximum improvement in mean platelet count and leukocyte count was observed in doxycycline with carica papaya group followed by doxycycline alone group followed by controls (conservative treatment) in decreasing order on day 4th and 7th day of admission. Reduced hospital stay was also in the same order. Conclusion: The study results indicate that doxycycline and carica papaya are useful modality to improve leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in dengue patients and to minimize hospital stay.

Dengue: Update on Clinically Relevant Therapeutic Strategies and Vaccines

“…A randomized clinical trial (with no placebo control arm) in Brazil, testing doxycycline for its efficacy as an anti-inflammatory drug in dengue infection showed reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF in the treatment group compared to patients receiving standard symptomatic and supportive care [ 65 ]. A case–control study in India showed that doxycycline-treated dengue patients showed faster recovery of platelet and leukocyte counts and reduced hospital stay [ 66 ]. However, these studies so far have not been robust double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials with defined end point measurements.…”

The pipeline for drugs for control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases: 2. Oral anti-infective drugs and drug combinations for off-label use

“…The vast majority of clinical trials do not evaluate anti-infective drugs registered for human use for an indication other than the NTD for which they are trialed and thus do not meet our inclusion criteria. Given the extent of research with traditional medicines which does not meet our inclusion criteria ( Cocculus hirsutus extracts [ 137 , 138 ], C. papaya extracts [ 139 – 141 ], Ganghuo Kanggan decoction (GHKGD) [ 142 ], Eupatorium perfoliatum [ 143 , 144 ]) we provided short summaries in Additional file 1 .…”

Dengue Virus: Molecular Biology and Recent Developments in Control Strategies, Prevention, Management, and Therapeutics

“…122 On the other hand, in India, it was observed that dengue patients who received doxycycline treatment exhibited reduced hospital stays as well as faster recovery of leukocyte and platelet counts. 123 Another study in India is currently ongoing to assess the antiviral potential of doxycycline in a pediatric population. 91…”