Lack of difference in iron status assessed by soluble transferrin receptor between children with cerebral malaria and those with non-cerebral malaria.
We conducted this study to determine whether children with cerebral malaria are less likely to have tissue iron deficiency than those with non-cerebral malaria. Iron status was assessed by soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), serum ferritin, and haemoglobin in 44 Zaïrian children: 15 with cerebral malaria, 14 with non-cerebral malaria, and 15 without malaria (age range 0.5-16 years). Although there was no significant difference in the mean concentrations of sTfR, serum ferritin, or haemoglobin between either group of patients, a higher percentage of children with cerebral malaria (27 per cent) than those with non-cerebral malaria (14 per cent) or controls (7%) had sTfR levels above 7.3 mg/l (suggestive of tissue iron deficiency). A higher percentage of children with cerebral malaria (40 per cent) than with non-cerebral malaria (29 per cent) or controls (20 per cent) also had either serum ferritin < 100 micrograms/l and inflammation or sTfR > 7.3 mg/l or both. The data suggest that children with cerebral malaria are as likely to have tissue iron deficiency as those with non-cerebral malaria.
Louisiana State University, School of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, New Orleans 70112, USA.
S
S
Kivibidila
R P
RP
Warrier
D
D
Ode
L
L
Yu
K A
KA
Tshefu
D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins