Transfusion-associated falciparum malaria successfully treated with red blood cell exchange transfusion.
Falciparum malaria is frequently associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The use of exchange transfusion as a therapeutic modality for severe cases of malaria has been described previously. We describe a case of a 49 year-old African American gentleman with a history of hemoglobin-SC disease who presented with a severe case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria 3 weeks after having received an infected blood transfusion. His peripheral smear showed the presence of numerous intraerythrocytic ring forms and "banana-shaped" gametocytes with a high-grade parasitemia, estimated at 18%. He was treated with antimalarial chemotherapy and also underwent a 12-unit red blood cell exchange transfusion, decreasing his parasite load to < 1%, as determined on repeat smear. It is prudent to be aware of the efficacy of this adjunctive treatment, especially with ever-increasing travel and a resultant increase in the prevalence of tropical diseases in the United States.
Tejura
B
B
Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19141, USA.
Sass
D A
DA
Fischer
R A
RA
Daskal
I
I
Eiger
G
G
D001741:Black or African American; D000818:Animals; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction