Immune complex: does it have a role in pathogenesis of renal failure in dengue infection?

Dengue infection is a major public health problem. When acute renal failure complicates dengue infection, it is usually associated with severe disease as in dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. The role of immune complex in development of renal failure in dengue infection is still unclear. Here, the author used a computational medicine technology to study the property of the dengue virus-immunoglobulin complex. According to this study, the diameter of derived complex is much smaller, compared with the diameter of glomerulus. Entrapment of the immune complex is believed to occur when a previous glomerular lesion causes narrowing of the glomerulus's diameter. Therefore, the immune complex should not have a significant role in pathogenesis of renal failure in dengue infection.