Background: Limited understanding of the presentation and course of infl uenza A(H5N1) infection
in humans hinders evidence-based management.
Methods: We reviewed the case records of patients admitted to the Persahabatan Hospital (RSP),
Jakarta, Indonesia, with infl uenza A(H5N1) confi rmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Twenty-two previously well patients, aged 3 to 47 years (median 24.5 years), were identifi ed.
All attended a clinic or hospital after a median of 2 days of illness (range 0-7). Times to fi rst dose
of oseltamivir (three died before receiving oseltamivir) were 2 to 12 days (median 7 days), administered
mostly (n 5 15) at RSP. Nineteen patients required mechanical ventilation. Deaths numbered
18 (case fatality 5 82%) occurring within hours to 6 days of RSP admission, corresponding
to 6 to 16 days of illness. Admission hyperglycemia ( 140 mg/dL), unrelated to steroids or known
underlying diabetes mellitus, and elevated D-dimer levels (0.81-5.2 mg/L, upper limit of normal
, 0.5 mg/L) were present in 14/21 (67%) and 20/21 (95%) patients, respectively. Fibrinogen concentrations
were mostly low/normal at 129.9 to 517.9 mg/dL (median 241.1, normal 200-400 mg/dL),
whereas C-reactive protein (9/11) and ferritin (6/8) levels were increased. Risk factors for death
(univariate analysis) included: (1) increased D-dimers, (2) hyperglycema, (3) increased urea,
(4) more extensive chest radiograph shadowing, and (5) lower admission oxygen saturation.
Conclusions: Early diagnosis and effective treatment of human infl uenza A(H5N1) infection remains
challenging. Most patients were referred late with advanced disease. Oseltamivir had limited
clinical impact. Elevated D-dimer levels, consistent with fi brinolysis, and hyperglycemia warrant
more research to determine their underlying mechanisms and optimal treatment.
