Annals of Tropical Pathology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2012  |  Volume : 3  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 91--96

Serum C-reactive protein and cholesterol as predictors of severity in childhood Falciparum malaria infestation among Nigerians


SA Biliaminu1, AO Shittu2, LO Olatunbosun3, IM Abdul-Azeez1, MA Sani3, AB Okesina1, AA Akande1, KO Omokanye3, LS Ojulari4 
1 Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
2 Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
3 Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
4 Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
A O Shittu
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin
Nigeria

Background: C-Reactive-Protein (CRP) is regarded as one of the most sensitive indicators of acute inflammation and its concentration often increases or decreases by about 2%. Although CRP is a nonspecific marker of inflammation, very high CRP levels are observed during attacks of malaria. CRP is a good positive predictive indicator for the diagnosis of malaria and is also useful in epidemiological studies on malaria. Depletion of red cell cholesterol has no detectable effect on major red cell membrane function but can block malaria invasion. Malaria parasite count on peripheral blood film has been reported not to be indicative of an acute infestation, thus highlighting the need for an alternative indicator of acute malarial infestation. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 paediatric subjects were randomly recruited for the study from among those diagnosed routinely in the Haematology Laboratory of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital of acute malaria. They were grouped into those with mild, moderate and severe malaria with 40 persons in each group. Their samples were further subjected to tests for malaria density, CRP and cholesterol levels determination. Results: The mean ages of our subjects with mild, moderate and severe malaria were 10.3±1.5 years, 7.1±2.2 years and 3.8±1.3 years respectively. Serum CRP levels significantly increases while that of cholesterol significantly reduces with increase in parasite scoring and absolute count (p values <0.005). Also the levels of serum CRP correlated positively while that of cholesterol correlated negatively with parasite scoring and count. Conclusion: In conclusion, serum C-reactive protein can be said to be a good indicator of the severity of malaria in our environment although it is not routinely done. Cholesterol level which correlated negatively with parasite density, can also serve as an indicator of severity of falciparum malaria infestation.


How to cite this article:
Biliaminu S A, Shittu A O, Olatunbosun L O, Abdul-Azeez I M, Sani M A, Okesina A B, Akande A A, Omokanye K O, Ojulari L S. Serum C-reactive protein and cholesterol as predictors of severity in childhood Falciparum malaria infestation among Nigerians.Ann Trop Pathol 2012;3:91-96


How to cite this URL:
Biliaminu S A, Shittu A O, Olatunbosun L O, Abdul-Azeez I M, Sani M A, Okesina A B, Akande A A, Omokanye K O, Ojulari L S. Serum C-reactive protein and cholesterol as predictors of severity in childhood Falciparum malaria infestation among Nigerians. Ann Trop Pathol [serial online] 2012 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];3:91-96
Available from: https://www.atpjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2251-0060;year=2012;volume=3;issue=2;spage=91;epage=96;aulast=Biliaminu;type=0