Thrombopoietin in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the key growth factor for platelet production and is elevated in states of platelet depletion. As thrombocytopenia is a common finding in malaria, we analysed TPO regulation before, during and after antimalarial treatment. Before treatment, TPO serum levels were significantly higher in patients with severe malaria (n = 35) than in patients with uncomplicated malaria (n = 44; P = 0.024), normalizing within 14-21 d of therapy. The rapid normalization of TPO levels and increase in low peripheral platelet counts after treatment indicate that the biosynthesis of TPO and its regulation in malaria patients are normal.
Kreil
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Vienna, Austria. anna.kreil@akh-wien.ac.at
Wenisch
C
C
Brittenham
G
G
Looareesuwan
S
S
Peck-Radosavljevic
M
M
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate; D006801:Humans; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010976:Platelet Count; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000187:drug effects*
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate; D013926:Thrombopoietin