Demographic characteristics of patients

The demographic and clinical characteristics of the 300 cases of DF included in this study are summarized in Table 1. The patients were divided into two groups: the Control group (n = 141), which did not receive IL-11, and the Treatment group (n = 159), which received an IL-11 analog. Patients averaged 34 ± 11.05 years in age; 187 were male (62.3%) and 113 were female (37.7%). The median age of the patients in the treatment group was considerably higher (35 years ± 11.81 years) in comparison to the control group (30.14 years; p < 0.0001). The proportion of male patients was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than female cases (Fig. 1). Clinical information from the patients revealed that a significant proportion of them presented with the following symptoms: fatigue (n = 286; 95.3%), fever (n = 236; 78.6%), joint pain (n = 263; 87.6%), abdominal pain (n = 294; 98%), and headache (n = 78; 92.6%). However, the incidence of skin lesions, muscle pain, or ocular irritation among patients was less frequent. Moreover, in comparison to the control group, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the treatment group reported fever (p < 0.0001) and headache (p = 0.012). At the same time, other symptoms were not statistically significant between the two groups.

Table 1 Demographic and clinical variables of study cases (n = 300)Fig. 1

Gender distribution among DF cases, including the control and the treatment group

Complications and outcomes of DF patients

The data for the complications and outcomes of the DF patients are summarized in Table 2. The data showed that bleeding (7.5% vs. 14.1%), shock (2.5% vs. 8.5%), organ failure (0.6% vs. 2.8%), death (1.2% vs. 16.3%), and recovery (88% vs. 59.5%) were significantly less frequent in the treatment group compared to the control group (all p < 0.05).

Table 2 Complications and outcome of DF patients (n = 300)Biochemical characteristics of patients

The t test was used to compare the norms of several hematological and biochemical parameters in the treatment and control groups. The results showed significant differences among the cohorts about several parameters (Table 3). The data showed that treatment group participants had significantly higher mean values of Hb concentration (mean = 13.08 g/dl, SD = 2.20) than the control group (mean = 12.39 g/dl, SD = 2.34, p = 0.004), WBC count (mean = 4597 cells/cubic mm, SD = 3262) than the control group (mean = 5782 cells/cubic mm, SD = 2790, p < 0.001), neutrophil count (mean = 8.65, SD = 0.88) than the control group (mean = 7.98, SD = 1.49, p < 0.001), hematocrit percentage (mean = 39.48%, SD = 5.98) than the control group (mean = 37.48%, SD = 7.20, p = 0.006), INR (mean = 1.05, SD = 0.79) than the control group (mean = 0.78, SD = 0.25, p = 0.004), and total bilirubin concentration (mean = 0.89 mg/dL, SD = 1.29) than the control group (mean = 0.47 mg/dL, SD = 0.21, p < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of alanine transaminase (ALT), lymphocyte count, monocyte count, platelets count, prothrombin time (PT), and creatinine between the treatment group and the control group (all P > 0.05).

Table 3 Biochemical and hematological characteristics of patients (n = 300)Effect of human interleukin-11 analogs on platelet counts of DF patients

After administering interleukin-11 analogs to the treatment group for 5 days, a comparison of mean platelet counts over time between the control and treatment groups was assessed using a t test (Table 4). At multiple time intervals, the results revealed significant differences in the average platelet counts between the two groups (Fig. 2). The treatment consistently exhibited higher mean platelet counts than the control group at subsequent time intervals (days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), as indicated by t test p values ranging from 0.043 to < 0.0001 (Fig. 2). The mean platelet counts in the treatment group increased exponentially in response to IL-11 treatment. However, in the control group, the platelet counts initially reduced and then increased on day 5. In addition, the patients who were admitted on day 3 of their illness showed a slower response to the treatment (p < 0.001) compared to those who were admitted on day 5 (Fig. 3). In addition, no adverse effect of the treatment were observed.

Table 4 Platelets count at different timepointsFig. 2

Platelet counts in treatment and control groups at different timepoints

Fig. 3

Effect of duration of illness on platelets count in response to treatment

Effect of gender on response to human interleukin-11 analogs and platelet counts

Gender stratification of the data revealed significant differences in mean platelet counts between female and male patients at various timepoints (days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) post-treatment, with corresponding p values of 0.023, 0.009, 0.005, 0.003, 0.005, and 0.018, respectively. At baseline (day 0) and subsequent timepoints (days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), male patients consistently exhibited a higher mean platelet count than female patients. These findings suggest that gender may influence platelet response to IL-11 treatment in dengue fever patients, with male patients showing a more robust increase in platelet counts over time than female patients (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4

Box and Whisker plot showing gender-based platelets count in response to treatment. M: male, F: female

Effect of age on response to human interleukin-11 analogs and platelet counts:

One-way ANOVA was performed to determine the effect of age on the platelet counts over time in dengue fever patients receiving IL-11 treatment. The analysis revealed significant differences in mean platelet counts in each age group at various timepoints (days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) post-treatment (all p value < 0.001). At baseline day 0, patients aged 18–35 had a mean platelet count of 23573, while patients in the other age groups had a mean platelet count of 30545 and 30700, respectively (Table 5). At subsequent timepoints, the platelet count increased rapidly in the patients of all age groups (Table 5; Fig. 5).

Table 5 Effect of age on response to human interleukin-11 analogss and platelet countsFig. 5

Effect of age on response to human interleukin-11 analogs and platelet counts