title: Monocytes and macrophages and placental malaria infections in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal immunity is thought to play a major role in the increased susceptibility of pregnant women to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Few studies exist on immunohistochemical characterization of the placental inflammatory infiltrate. The current study was conducted in Gadarif hospital in an area characterized by unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety three placentae were investigated for malaria histological changes and immunohistochemical study for monocytes and macrophages (CD68).
  
  
  RESULTS
  While 1(1.1%), 2(2.2%) and 20(21.5%) of the 93 placentae had acute, chronic and past malaria infections, 70(75.2%) had no malaria infections. Monocytes and macrophage (CD 68) were detected in 29 (31.2%) of these 93 placentae. Significantly higher rate of monocytes and macrophage were detected in placentae with malaria infections [11/23 (47.8%) vs. 18/70 (25.7%); P = 0.047] especially in placentae with past malaria infections. Placental malaria infections and monocytes and macrophages cells infiltration were not different between primiparae and multiparae. There was no significant difference in the birth weight between the women with placental malaria infections/monocytes and macrophages cells infiltration and those who had no placental malaria infections/cellular infiltrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly higher rate of monocytes and macrophage were detected in placentae with malaria infections. Neither placental malaria infections nor cellular infiltrates were associated with parity or lead to reduction of birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Magdi M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.forename: Amal H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mohmmed
authors.forename: Gamal K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Mustafa I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Elbashir
authors.forename: Ishag
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013397:Sudan; D055815:Young Adult; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule