Malaria Infection in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria: Association with Markers of Hyposplenism

Author:

Ladu Adama I,Kadaura Mairo Y,Dauda Mohammed,Baba Abubakar Sadiq,Zango Nasir Garba,Jeffery Caroline,Farate Abubakar,Adekile Adekunle,Bates Imelda

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMalaria is considered an important cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with sickle cell disease (SCD). This has partly been attributed to the loss of splenic function that occurs early in the disease process. We aimed to study the prevalence of malaria infection among Nigerian SCD patients and explore the association with spleen size and function.MethodThis was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study performed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in North-Eastern Nigeria from October 2020 to November 2021. Giemsa-stained blood smears for malaria parasites, Howell-Jolly body (HJB) red cells enumeration for spleen function evaluation and ultrasonography for spleen size assessment, were performed in acutely-ill SCD patients. Results of malaria parasitaemia and parasite density were compared with those of steady-state SCD patients and non-SCD controls.ResultsA total of 394 participants consisting of 119 acutely-ill SCD patients, 167 steady-state SCD controls and 108 non-SCD controls were studied. The prevalence ofP. falciparumparasitaemia was 51.3% in acutely-ill SCD patients, 31.7% in steady-state SCD controls and 13.0% in the non-SCD controls. In the SCD group, the mean parasite density was significantly higher among the acutely-ill SCD patients than the steady-state SCD controls (29,747 vs 18,563 parasites / ul;P = 0.001). Although parasitaemia prevalence was lower among the non-SCD controls, parasite density was significantly higher compared to both SCD groups (P = 0.0001). Among the acutely-ill SCD patients, the prevalence of clinical malaria and severe malaria anaemia were highest among children less than 5 years of age. Prevalence of parasitaemia (P = 0.540) and parasite density (P = 0.975) among acutely-ill SCD patients with visualized spleens on ultrasonography were not statistically different compared to those with absent spleens. Similarly, the frequency of HJB red cells among patients with parasitaemia was not significantly different compared to patients without parasitaemia (P = 0.183).ConclusionOur study highlights the frequency and role of malaria infection in acutely-ill SCD patients, especially in those younger than five years. Although we have found no evidence of an increased risk of malaria parasitaemia or parasite density with markers of hyposplenism, the role played by an underlying immunity to malaria among SCD patients is not clear. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of hyposplenism and malaria in SCD patients in malaria-endemic regions.

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3