Myocardial damage in falciparum malaria detectable by cardiac troponin T is rare.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of myocardial damage in falciparum malaria by serum concentration of cardiac troponin T.


METHODS
Retrospective study of stored sera and patient files; assessment of acute myocardial damage by serum concentration or activity of cardiac troponin T, creatine kinase, creatine kinase MB and myoglobin and by routine electrocardiography.


RESULTS
A total of 161 patients with falciparum malaria were included in the study; troponin T was elevated in one case (0.6%), no CK-MB elevations were found, myoglobin was elevated in 10 of 161 patients (6.2%), all of whom were elderly and had concomitant elevated serum concentration levels of cystatin C; ECG abnormalities were seen in 23 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessed by troponin T, myocardial damage in falciparum malaria is rare.
Günther
A
A
Institut für Tropenmedizin, Charité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
Grobusch
M P
MP
Slevogt
H
H
Abel
W
W
Burchard
G D
GD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood*
D020107:Troponin T