The acute phase response in children with mild and severe malaria in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The production of acute phase proteins during infection is an important part of innate immunity and limits inflammation. However, little is known of the acute phase response in malaria. We measured acute phase proteins in plasma in children attending clinics and admitted to hospital with acute malaria in Papua New Guinea. Plasma ferritin concentration increased progressively with disease severity with markedly elevated levels in the most severely ill children. Plasma ferritin was >500 ng/ml in 7/99 (7.1%) outpatients with uncomplicated malaria, 22/100 (22.0%) hospital non-severe cases, 64/175 (36.6%) severe malaria cases who survived and 7/9 (77.8%) severe malaria deaths (P < 0.001). The gre..