title: Cortisol and uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the levels of serum cortisol in patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentrations of cortisol were measured in sera of 25 patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria (at presentation, 24 h and 7 d later) and 25 healthy volunteers using radioimmunoassay gamma counter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in mean (SD) of total cortisol levels in patients with malaria in comparison with the control group; 602.2 (369.6) vs. 449.2(311.7) ng/mL, P=0.12. In patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, the mean (SD) presenting cortisol levels were significantly higher in comparison to the levels on day 7; 602.2 (369.6) vs. 373.6(139.1) ng/mL, P=0.009. In the patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria (on presentation) cortisol levels were not correlated with initial temperature or the presenting parasitaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, cortisol levels were not significantly different between the patients and the controls.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kheir
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Elhardello
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Almahi
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Elbashir
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishag
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone