Effect of Plasmodium falciparum malaria on plasma fibrinopeptide-A (FpA) concentration.
Plasma Fibrinopeptide-A (FpA) concentrations were determined using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in patients with acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection and in 30 healthy controls. The mean FpA levels of the malaria patients were significantly raised (p < 0.001). The patients' FpA level correlated positively with malaria parasitaemia, but negatively with plasma fibrinogen concentration. A week after commencement of chloroquine therapy and subsequent disappearance of malaria parasites from the thick blood films, the patients' FpA levels decreased significantly from pre-treatment values. It is suggested that the elevated FpA and reduced plasma fibrinogen levels in the patients probably indicate a more widespread existence of overt coagulation defect in acute malaria infection.
Jimmy
E O
EO
Department of Haematology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Saliu
I
I
Okpala
I
I
Walker
O
O
Sowumni
A
A
Ademowo
O G
OG
Essien
E M
EM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male
D005344:Fibrinopeptide A; D002738:Chloroquine