Changes in Haematological Parameters in Plasmodium falciparum Infected Malaria Patients in an Urban Slum of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study was carried to determine the changes in haematological parameters in P. falciparum infected patients in Ajeromi Ifelodun area of Lagos, Nigeria. Seventy (70) human subjects comprising of 50 P. falciparum malarial infected and 20 non-infected (control) subjects between 10-60 years were selected for this study. RDT test and microscopy were carried out to ascertain the presence of P. falciparum. They were grouped based on age criteria and level of parasitaemia. This work was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Nigeria Institute for Medical Research Laboratory, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria between August 2016 and January 2017. Blood samples were collected for the determination of P. falciparum, level of parasitaemia and haematological parameters. Haematological parameters were determined using a Coulter A-T Pierce haematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Inc. Fullerton, CA, USA), P. falciparum was determined by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and Microscopy. There was a significant increase in the mean level of total white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells distribution width (RDW), and a significant decrease in the mean level of haematocrit (HCT), haemoglobin (HGB), red blood cells (RBC), and platelets (PLT) in the malaria infected patients than in the controls (p<0.05). There was also a higher malaria parasite density among malaria infected patients for ages above 20 and a lower malaria parasite density for ages below 20 in this study. The findings of this study show that infection with P. falciparum produces changes in haematological parameters in those infected and tested positive for malaria. The most commonly affected parameters are haemoglobin, haematocrit, white blood cells and platelet count.

Malaria: biochemical, physiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic updates

“…The renal ischemia caused by the sequestration of the parasite into the microvasculature bed of the kidney could be the cause of high urea and creatinine in severe malaria. It was observed that serum protein decreased markedly in severe malaria infection, which is thought to be due to the influence of the parasite on protein synthesis ( Ozojiofor et al, 2020 ).…”

Erythrocytic Antioxidant Enzymes, Plasma Malondialdehyde and Haemoglobin Levels in Plasmodium Falciparum Infected Malaria Patients in Lagos, Nigeria

“…In this study, a significant decrease in the haemoglobin (HGB) level was observed. Akogwu et al [37] reported decreased levels of PCV/HGB (anaemia) and Ozojiofor et al [16] also reported a decrease in the mean level of haematocrit (HCT/PCV), haemoglobin (HGB), red blood cells (RBC), and platelets (PLT) in P. falciparum infected patients compared to the healthy subjects. The decrease in HGB could be due to oxidative stress [38] and the breakdown of haemoglobin by the parasite in malaria infected patients and the subsequent removal of parasitized erythrocytes from circulation by the reticuloendothelial system.…”

“…Randomization was done by selecting patients with malaria after microscopic examination of thin and thick blood smears by the method of Cheesbrough [15] as reported by Ozojiofor et al, [16]. The number of parasites counted per 200 white blood cells was used to calculate parasite density on the basis of 8000 leukocytes per μl of blood for those slides that were positive.…”