Abstract

Changes of lipid parameter concentrations are observed in patients suffering from malaria. However, there are few data on their evolution during the course of the infection and their relationship with the infection parameters. The levels of triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured during and after uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in 122 children. The relationship with the antimalarial drug treatment, the parasite density and haemoglobin levels was also assessed. Mean TG levels were high before the treatment (1.9 ± 1.2 mmol/L) and at day 3 post-treatment (2.3 ± 1.3 mmol/L), then subsequently decreased to reach normal level from day 7. A negative correlation was found between haemoglobin (Hb) levels and TG (rho = -0.47; p < 0.01); previous high parasitaemia at inclusion was associated with a subsequent increase of TG levels after treatment administration. The majority of patients with hypertriglyceridemia were anaemic at day 3 (n = 20/20) and at day 7 (n = 18/19). Only 5 (4.1%) patients had hypertriglyceridemia at day 28. A trend toward a negative correlation between TC levels and parasite density was observed (rho = -0.18; p = 0.05). Mean TC concentration was significantly lower at day 0 when all the patients were parasitaemic (3.0 ± 1.0 mmol/L) compared to day 3 (3.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L) (p = 0.01). Mean CT was low during the first week and at day 28, 71 (58.2%) children still had a subnormal CT levels. No relationship was found with the type of antimalarial drug. Transient hypertriglyceridemia and hypocholesterolemia are observed during the course of P. falciparum infection. High TG levels seem to be related to the malaria related haemolysis.

Key words: Malaria, cholesterol, triglycerides, antimalarial, Gabon.