Summary
Recently, there have been substantdevelopments ial in the understanding of Ebola hemorrhagic
fever pathogenesis, but there are still major gaps. These infections occur in underdeveloped
areas of the world,and much of our knowledge of naturally occurring disease is derived
from sporadic outbreaks that occurred decades in the past. Recently conducted laboratory
animal studies have provided insight into Ebola pathogenesis and may help guide clinical
investigations of disease using contemporary methodologies that were not available
previously. A better understanding of the relevant host and viral factors that influence
clinical and virologic outcome will be critical to our ability to combat this aggressive
pathogen. This article reviews the most relevant information relating to the postulated
pathogenesis of this disease, focusing on the role of the endothelium in contributing
to the coagulation disorders that characterize Ebola hemorrhagic fever in primates.
Some of the remaining and key unanswered questions relating to the role of the vascular
system in the pathogenesis of this disease, that need to be addressed in further research,
are highlighted.
Keywords
Ebola virus - filovirus - hemorrhagic fever - pathogenesis