Plasmodium Falciparum-Induced Kidney and Liver Dysfunction in Malaria Patients in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Plasmodium falciparum infection on kidney and liver function parameters in malaria patients in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Blood samples taken from 64 malaria patients and 64 non-malaria volunteers at Abanita and Blue Shield Hospitals, Freetown Sierra Leone between January to April, 2009 were examined. Changes in serum biochemical parameters were analysed using normal range values as baseline. Serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations were significantly elevated in falciparum malaria patients compared to their non-malaria counterparts which is an indication of defective liver function. Most of patients with falciparum malaria also have significantly high serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium showing alteration in kidney function. This study suggests that malaria parasites could be responsible for derangement of kidney and liver functions in patients and could therefore contribute to organ damage in affected individuals if not treated.

Changes in Levels of Antioxidant Markers and Status of Some Enzyme Activities among FalciparumMalaria Patients in Yemen

“…The result of this study shows also significant increase in the serum ALP activity in malaria [25] patients. Our results are consistent with other studies which reported that majority of the patients show elevation in serum activities of ALP indicating liver damage as described by several studies [26][27][28]. The observed elevation in serum ALP activity is an indication that the hepatic stage of the parasite's life cycle occur in its human host and is accompanied by significant perturbation in the hepatocytes membrane leading to leakage of this enzyme out of the liver cells.…”

Antiplasmodial Activity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Anogeisus leiocarpus and its Effect on Heart and Liver of Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

“…This supports the previous study which showed that liver enzymes increase in the body with the presence of malaria parasite [21,22].…”

Effect of Methanolic Extract of Stem Bark ofAnogeissus Leiocarpuson Liver Function of Mice Infected with Plasmodium Berghei

“…This increase showed that the level of ALT and AST in the organisms could depend on the dosage of A. leiocarpus, which indicated that higher concentration of A. leiocarpus may be responsible for liver dysfunction. The increase in bilirubin level in the group treated with 200 mg.kg −1 of A.leicarpus showed that the rate of haemolysis at this dosage was very high and this could be associated with hepatocellular damage, biliary tract obstruction and jaundice (19,20). This study could not show the extent of the liver damage because it was limited to the normal treatment period.…”

“…The prevalence of malaria infection is higher in the tropical regions of the world with ∼219 million cases, accounting for ∼836,000 deaths annually (1,19,25). Children and pregnant women are highly susceptible to malaria infection (15) due to the low level of immunity in children, especially children under 5 years who still depend on the immunity acquired from their mother (2).…”