Plasma Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein-2 Concentrations Do Not Reflect Severity of Malaria in Papua New Guinean Children
Author(s)
Manning, Laurens
Laman, Moses
Stanisic, Danielle
Rosanas-Urgell, Anna
Bona, Cathy
Teine, David
Siba, Peter
Mueller, Ivo
M.E. Davis, Timothy
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background. In areas of unstable malaria transmission, plasma Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP-2) concentrations parallel total parasite biomass and thus infection severity. However, where transmission is more intense, plasma PfHRP-2 might not reliably predict complications and mortality. Methods. As part of a prospective case-control study of severe pediatric illness in Madang, Papua New Guinea, we recruited 220 children aged 6 months to 10 years with severe falciparum malaria, 48 with uncomplicated malaria, and 139 healthy controls. Groups were matched by age, sex, and province of parental birth. ...
View more >Background. In areas of unstable malaria transmission, plasma Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP-2) concentrations parallel total parasite biomass and thus infection severity. However, where transmission is more intense, plasma PfHRP-2 might not reliably predict complications and mortality. Methods. As part of a prospective case-control study of severe pediatric illness in Madang, Papua New Guinea, we recruited 220 children aged 6 months to 10 years with severe falciparum malaria, 48 with uncomplicated malaria, and 139 healthy controls. Groups were matched by age, sex, and province of parental birth. Plasma PfHRP-2 levels were quantified by validated immunoassay. Results. Detectable plasma PfHRP-2 concentrations were present in 21 healthy controls (15.1%). Although plasma PfHRP-2 levels were higher in the children with clinical malaria (P < .001), there was no difference between those with uncomplicated and severe infections (median, 584 and 456 ng/mL, respectively [interquartile range, 77-1114 and 113-1113 ng/mL, respectively]; P = .43). Log parasitemia, hemoglobin, log plasma bilirubin, and plasma creatinine levels were independently associated with plasma PfHRP-2 levels in multiple regression analysis (P = .014), but coma, blood lactate level, and plasma bicarbonate level were not. The 1 severely ill child who died had a plasma PfHRP-2 concentration of 483 ng/mL, close to the group median. Conclusions. The clinical and prognostic utility of plasma PfHRP-2 concentrations depends on the epidemiologic circumstances. In areas of intense malaria transmission, plasma PfHRP-2 reflects recent as well as present infections.
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View more >Background. In areas of unstable malaria transmission, plasma Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP-2) concentrations parallel total parasite biomass and thus infection severity. However, where transmission is more intense, plasma PfHRP-2 might not reliably predict complications and mortality. Methods. As part of a prospective case-control study of severe pediatric illness in Madang, Papua New Guinea, we recruited 220 children aged 6 months to 10 years with severe falciparum malaria, 48 with uncomplicated malaria, and 139 healthy controls. Groups were matched by age, sex, and province of parental birth. Plasma PfHRP-2 levels were quantified by validated immunoassay. Results. Detectable plasma PfHRP-2 concentrations were present in 21 healthy controls (15.1%). Although plasma PfHRP-2 levels were higher in the children with clinical malaria (P < .001), there was no difference between those with uncomplicated and severe infections (median, 584 and 456 ng/mL, respectively [interquartile range, 77-1114 and 113-1113 ng/mL, respectively]; P = .43). Log parasitemia, hemoglobin, log plasma bilirubin, and plasma creatinine levels were independently associated with plasma PfHRP-2 levels in multiple regression analysis (P = .014), but coma, blood lactate level, and plasma bicarbonate level were not. The 1 severely ill child who died had a plasma PfHRP-2 concentration of 483 ng/mL, close to the group median. Conclusions. The clinical and prognostic utility of plasma PfHRP-2 concentrations depends on the epidemiologic circumstances. In areas of intense malaria transmission, plasma PfHRP-2 reflects recent as well as present infections.
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Journal Title
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Volume
52
Issue
4
Subject
Biological sciences
Biomedical and clinical sciences