title: C-reactive protein in children with malaria in Luanda, Angola: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant of which little is known in malaria, especially in central Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study CRP was measured in children with suspected malaria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 346 children, 234 had positive and 112 negative malaria microscopy. Their median CRP was 140 mg/L (IQR 88) vs 69 mg/L (IQR 129; p<0.001) respectively. CRP was positively correlated with parasitemia (p<0.001), and length of hospital stay (p=0.01), and negatively with thrombocyte count (p=0.01), and hemoglobin level (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C-reactive protein increases in malaria and correlates with parasitemia and some manifestations of complicated disease.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico David Bernardino, Luanda, Angola Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland tuulapelkonen@hotmail.com tuula.i.pelkonen@hus.fi.
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pelkonen
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico David Bernardino, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albino
authors.affiliation: Universidad Diego Portales, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Irmeli
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roine
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico David Bernardino, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernardino
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peltola
mesh_terms: D000810:Angola / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D018512:Parasitemia; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Child; Developing country; Luanda; Malaria