Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria
Abstract Background Procalcitonin (PCT) is closely correlated with parasite burden and clinical outcome in falciparum malaria. The role of PCT in tertian malaria has not previously been investigated. Patients and methods PCT serum levels in 37 patients with tertian malaria were analysed. Clinical an...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:cbccc24e23f048c88e49beec20b548e8 2023-05-15T15:07:09+02:00 Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria Chiwakata Collins B Schmiedel Stefan Manegold Christoph Dietrich Manfred 2003-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-2-34 https://doaj.org/article/cbccc24e23f048c88e49beec20b548e8 EN eng BMC http://www.malariajournal.com/content/2/1/34 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-2-34 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/cbccc24e23f048c88e49beec20b548e8 Malaria Journal, Vol 2, Iss 1, p 34 (2003) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2003 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-2-34 2022-12-31T13:51:52Z Abstract Background Procalcitonin (PCT) is closely correlated with parasite burden and clinical outcome in falciparum malaria. The role of PCT in tertian malaria has not previously been investigated. Patients and methods PCT serum levels in 37 patients with tertian malaria were analysed. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed and statistically correlated both to the initial PCT levels and during the course of the disease. Results PCT levels rose for one day after commencing treatment and declined thereafter. However, there was no significant correlation with parasite burden, clinical parameters, laboratory values, or the presence of semi-immunity. Before treatment, the majority of patients showed normal or slightly elevated PCT levels (< 2.5 ng/ml), but PCT was markedly elevated (4.8 – 47 ng/ml) in one third of the population. The two groups did not differ by any other of the assessed parameters. Thus, while the post-treatment course of PCT resembles falciparum malaria, the lack of correlation between disease severity and even high PCT levels in a large proportion of patients is intriguing. Conclusions There is a fundamental difference in the relationship of PCT with tertian malaria not seen in other infectious diseases in which elevated PCT levels have been observed. This suggests distinct pathophysiological pathways in malaria. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 2 1 34 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Chiwakata Collins B Schmiedel Stefan Manegold Christoph Dietrich Manfred Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Procalcitonin (PCT) is closely correlated with parasite burden and clinical outcome in falciparum malaria. The role of PCT in tertian malaria has not previously been investigated. Patients and methods PCT serum levels in 37 patients with tertian malaria were analysed. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed and statistically correlated both to the initial PCT levels and during the course of the disease. Results PCT levels rose for one day after commencing treatment and declined thereafter. However, there was no significant correlation with parasite burden, clinical parameters, laboratory values, or the presence of semi-immunity. Before treatment, the majority of patients showed normal or slightly elevated PCT levels (< 2.5 ng/ml), but PCT was markedly elevated (4.8 – 47 ng/ml) in one third of the population. The two groups did not differ by any other of the assessed parameters. Thus, while the post-treatment course of PCT resembles falciparum malaria, the lack of correlation between disease severity and even high PCT levels in a large proportion of patients is intriguing. Conclusions There is a fundamental difference in the relationship of PCT with tertian malaria not seen in other infectious diseases in which elevated PCT levels have been observed. This suggests distinct pathophysiological pathways in malaria. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Chiwakata Collins B Schmiedel Stefan Manegold Christoph Dietrich Manfred |
author_facet |
Chiwakata Collins B Schmiedel Stefan Manegold Christoph Dietrich Manfred |
author_sort |
Chiwakata Collins B |
title |
Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria |
title_short |
Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria |
title_full |
Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria |
title_fullStr |
Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria |
title_full_unstemmed |
Procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria |
title_sort |
procalcitonin serum levels in tertian malaria |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-2-34 https://doaj.org/article/cbccc24e23f048c88e49beec20b548e8 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 2, Iss 1, p 34 (2003) |
op_relation |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/2/1/34 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-2-34 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/cbccc24e23f048c88e49beec20b548e8 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-2-34 |
container_title |
Malaria Journal |
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2 |
container_issue |
1 |
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34 |
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1766338708709048320 |