A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Proportion Estimates of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) in Malaria

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes systemic coagulation to be turned on and coagulation factors to be used up. However, the evidence for DIC in malaria patients is still not clear, and small case series and retrospective studies have shown varying results. This meta-analysis was intended for the evaluation of the evidence of DIC among malaria patients using a meta-analysis approach. The protocol for the systematic review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023392194. Studies that investigated DIC in patients with malaria were searched in Ovid, Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and MEDLINE. The pooled proportion with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of DIC among malaria patients was estimated using a random-effects model. A total of 1837 articles were identified, and 38 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The overall proportion of DIC in malaria was 11.6% (95% CI: 8.9%-14.3%, I²: 93.2%, 38 studies). DIC in severe falciparum malaria and fatal malaria was 14.6% (95% CI: 5.0-24.3%, I²: 95.5%, 11 studies) and 82.2% (95% CI: 56.2-100%, I²: 87.3, 4 studies). The estimates of DIC among severe malaria patients who had multi-organ dysfunction with bleeding, cerebral malaria, acute renal failure, and ≥2 complications were 79.6% (95% CI: 67.1-88.2%, one study), 11.9% (95% CI: 7.9-17.6%, one study), 16.7% (95% CI: 10.2-23.3%, ten studies), and 4.8% (95% CI: 1.9-7.7%, nine studies), respectively. The proportion estimates of DIC among the patients with malaria depended on the Plasmodium species, clinical severity, and types of severe complications. The information from this study provided useful information to guide the management of malaria patients. Future studies are needed to investigate the association between Plasmodium infection and DIC and to understand the mechanism of malaria-induced DIC.

A study on multi-organ dysfunction syndrome in malaria using sequential organ failure assessment score

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence, clinical spectrum, prognostic factors, and outcome of multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in patients with malaria.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred and twenty-four patients with malaria, diagnosed by a positive peripheral blood film and rapid malaria test, were studied for MODS using the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. The severity of malaria was assessed by the WHO criteria.

Results:

Severe malaria was present in 54 (43.54%) patients. MODS was detected in 108 (87.09%) patients with malaria (Plasmodium falciparum - 57 [85.07%], Plasmodium vivax - 46 [88.46%] and mixed P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria - 5 [100%] cases). SOFA scores of MODS-and non-MODS-patients differed significantly (P < 0.001). No significant association was seen between MODS and type of malaria (P = 0.894). Mortality among malaria patients with MODS was 5.55% (6/108) (P. falciparum 8.77% [5/57] and P. vivax 2.17% [1/46]). The outcome of MODS was associated significantly with the severity of the SOFA score at admission (P = 0.011) but not with the type of malaria, malaria parasite index, and the number of organs involved (P > 0.05 each). The SOFA score at admission correlated significantly with the duration of hospitalization (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

MODS occurs with high frequency in malaria and is not dependent on the type of malaria. The outcome of MODS and recovery time depends on the severity of MODS. The SOFA score is useful in detecting MODS and ascertaining its severity and prognosis in malaria.

Urinalysis and Clinical Correlations in Patients with P. vivax or P. falciparum Malaria from Colombia

BACKGROUND

Urinalysis is a poorly reviewed diagnostic tool in malaria patients; its application can show the presence of severe malaria.

METHODS

Urinalysis was performed in a total of 620 patients diagnosed with malaria by thick blood smear; complications were classified according to WHO major criteria for severity and minor criteria according to the Colombian malaria guideline.

RESULTS

Severe or moderate clinical complications were diagnosed in 31.1% of patients, hepatic dysfunctions were diagnosed in 25.8%, anemia was diagnosed in 9.8%, thrombocytopenia was diagnosed in 7.7%, renal dysfunction was diagnosed in 4.8%, neurological and pulmonary complications were diagnosed in 2.1% and 2.4%, hypoglycemia was diagnosed in 1.1% of patients with blood glucose analysis, and acidosis was diagnosed in 10 of 25. Bilirubinuria was found in 24.3%, associated with urobilinuria, proteinuria, and increased specific gravity; urobilinuria was found in 30.6% associated with elevated serum bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase; 39.2% had proteinuria, associated with higher blood urea nitrogen, serum bilirubin, aspartate, alanine-transaminase, hematuria, and increased specific gravity. Severe or moderate liver and renal complications were associated with proteinuria and bilirubinuria. Urobilinuria was associated with thrombocytopenia and neurological and hepatic dysfunction. Ketonuria was associated with neurological dysfunctions.

CONCLUSIONS

The most frequent alterations in the urinalysis were bilirubinuria, proteinuria, urobilinuria, and increased specific gravity, related to thrombocytopenia and liver, kidney, and neurological alterations.

Acute kidney injury due to tropical infectious diseases and animal venoms: a tale of 2 continents

South and Southeast Asia and Latin American together comprise 46 countries and are home to approximately 40% of the world population. The sociopolitical and economic heterogeneity, tropical climate, and malady transitions characteristic of the region strongly influence disease behavior and health care delivery. Acute kidney injury epidemiology mirrors these inequalities. In addition to hospital-acquired acute kidney injury in tertiary care centers, these countries face a large preventable burden of community-acquired acute kidney injury secondary to tropical infectious diseases or animal venoms, affecting previously healthy young individuals. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical picture, prevention, risk factors, and pathophysiology of acute kidney injury associated with tropical diseases (malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, scrub typhus, and yellow fever) and animal venom (snakes, bees, caterpillars, spiders, and scorpions) in tropical regions of Asia and Latin America, and discusses the potential future challenges due to emerging issues.

Tropical Diseases Nephropathy - An Underemphasized Comorbidity

The tropical areas are a home to a number of diseases because of the hot & humid climate, and lack of health care facilities. Tropical Nephropathies are a major health problem and a matter of great concern. The main causes of kidney injury in tropics are due to bacterial, viral or parasitic infections like malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, scrub typhus, acute gastroenteritis, tuberculosis, leprosy and toxic envenomations like snake bite. Renal injury associated with tropical infections has a wide spectrum of presentations ranging from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease. Renal involvement in infectious diseases by one or other mechanism is a definite cause of increased morbidity and mortality. Proper understanding of these diseases, early diagnosis, patient education and improved health care facilities will lead to a better outcome and improved survival. This article reviews the various tropical infections causing kidney injury including pathophysiology and line of management.

Malarial hepatopathy: Clinical profile and association with other malarial complications

This prospective study assessed the incidence, clinical profile and outcome of malarial hepatopathy and its association with other complications in patients with malaria, proved by peripheral blood smear examination and rapid malaria test. Hyperbilirubinemia (Serum bilirubin >3mg/dL) with >3-fold rise in serum aminotransferases in absence of a different explanation for such derangement was considered as malarial hepatopathy. Of 134 (falciparum-81, vivax-48 and mixed falciparum and vivax-5) malaria cases, hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 41.04%. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was raised >3-fold in 17.16% and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in 4.47% cases. Malarial hepatopathy was observed in 4.47% (falciparum-5 and vivax malaria-1) cases, but had insignificant association with the type of malaria (p=0.532). Serum bilirubin, AST and ALT levels were higher while age was lower in both overall (p<0.05 each) and falciparum malaria cases with hepatopathy than without hepatopathy (p<0.05 each). Malarial hepatopathy was associated with a higher incidence of cerebral malaria, shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute kidney injury in both overall (p<0.05 each) and falciparum malaria (p<0.05 each) and hyponatremia and disseminated intravascular coagulation only in overall malaria (p<0.05). Malarial hepatopathy had significant association with duration of hospitalization, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time and jaundice clearance time in overall (p<0.05 each) and falciparum (p<0.05 each) but not vivax malaria cases (p>0.05 each). Mortality occurred in 1 (20%) case of falciparum-induced hepatopathy with an overall mortality of 16.66%. ARDS (p=0.003) and shock (p=0.026) were independently associated with malarial hepatopathy overall while only ARDS with falciparum-induced hepatopathy (p=0.006). Thus, hepatocellular dysfunction is common in malaria but that qualifying as malarial hepatopathy is not common. Malarial hepatopathy is likely to occur in presence of other malarial complications. It is an epiphenomenon in severe malaria and indicative of severe disease. Establishing a particular association with malaria or mortality would require a larger case-control study of severe malaria.

Severe Malaria Associated with Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax among Children in Pawe Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Despite rigorous effort made to control malaria for more than a century, it is still among the main public health problems in least developed regions of the world. Majority of deaths associated with malaria occur in sub-Sahara Africa among biologically risked groups. Thus, this study was designed to assess the incidence of severe malaria syndromes among children in Pawe Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Children seeking medication for malaria infection in Pawe Hospital during the study period were recruited. Sociodemographic characteristics, physical, hematological, and clinical features of complicated malaria were assessed following standard parasitological and clinical procedures. A total of 263 children were found malaria positive. Among these, 200 were infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Most of the severe malaria symptoms were observed among children infected with P. falciparum and P. vivax. The study showed that significant number of the children developed severe life threatening malaria complications. This calls for prompt early diagnosis and effective treatment of patients to reduce mortality and complications associated with malaria in the study site.

CKD and Infectious Diseases in Asia Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities

The exact number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Asia Pacific is uncertain. In numeric terms, the region is home to the largest population of patients with untreated chronic kidney failure. The climatic, geographic, social, cultural, economic, and environmental diversity within this region is higher than in any other part of the world. Large parts of the region face a climate-related burden of infectious diseases. Infections contribute to the development and progression of CKD and complicate the course of patients with pre-existing CKD (especially those on dialysis therapy or who are immunosuppressed), increase the cost of CKD care, and contribute to mortality and morbidity. Kidney involvement is a feature of several infectious diseases prevalent in Asia Pacific. Examples include malaria, leptospirosis, scrub typhus, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C virus, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and Hantaan virus infections. The contribution of infection-associated acute kidney injury to the overall burden of CKD has not been evaluated systematically. Research is needed to quantify the impact of infections on kidney health by undertaking prospective studies. Nephrologists need to work with infectious disease research groups and government infection surveillance and control programs.

Plasmodium vivax infection impersonating Plasmodium falciparum malaria

A 73-year-old woman came to the casualty ward with symptoms of syncopal attacks, weakness, fever with chills and rigors. A provisional diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax malaria was made after the blood investigations. She had deranged renal function tests, altered sensorium and low platelet count. Repeated tests for P. falciparum (Card test) were negative. Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenise (G6PD) levels were within normal limits. Treatment for P. vivax was started with intravenous quinine initially followed by oral quinine for a period of seven days and patient responded to the treatment and was discharged within 2 weeks of admission. Most of the cases of P. vivax present with typical and predictable features, although atypical cases with characteristics of P. falciparum can occur, especially in the elderly.

Pathogenesis of malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome

Malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ARDS) is an increasingly reported, often lethal, and incompletely understood complication of malaria. We discuss and compare the pathogenesis of MA-ARDS in patients and in different murine models, including recent models without cerebral involvement, and summarize the roles of different leukocyte subclasses, adhesion molecules, cytokines, and chemokines. In patients as well as in mice, severe edema and impaired gas exchange are associated with abundant inflammatory infiltrates consisting of mainly mononuclear cells and parasite sequestration, and the pathogenesis appears different from cerebral malaria (CM). Experimental anti-inflammatory interventions are successful in mice and remain to be validated in patients.