Liver injury in the course of malaria

121 malaria cases treated in the Ward of Tropical Diseases of the Clinic of the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia in the years 1993-1999 were analysed. About 37% of the patients showed symptoms of parenchymal liver injury manifested by increased bilirubin concentration, elevated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational maritime health Vol. 51; no. 1-4; p. 30
Main Authors Goljan, J, Nahorski, W, Felczak-Korzybska, I, Górski, J, Myjak, P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Poland 2000
Subjects
Adult
Female
Humans
Liver - pathology
Liver Diseases - epidemiology
Liver Diseases - etiology
Malaria - complications
Malaria - epidemiology
Male
Medical Records
Middle Aged
Naval Medicine - statistics & numerical data
Nepal - epidemiology
Nigeria - epidemiology
Papua New Guinea - epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Tropical Medicine - statistics & numerical data
Nigeria
Papua New Guinea
Nepal
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Summary:121 malaria cases treated in the Ward of Tropical Diseases of the Clinic of the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia in the years 1993-1999 were analysed. About 37% of the patients showed symptoms of parenchymal liver injury manifested by increased bilirubin concentration, elevated transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and GGTP levels. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed the activation of cells of mononuclear phagocyte system, Kupffer's cells in particular, with the presence of granules of browny-black ,,malarial" pigment and iron deposits. In one fatal tropical malaria case, symptoms of disseminated intravascular coagulation were found along with a few lymphocytic infiltrations in portal spaces, and focal necrosis of hepatocytes. In some patients with the so-called ,,untypical" secondary liver lesions present in the histopathological examination, the toxic effect of antimalarial drugs should be taken into account. A liver biopsy is justified in patients manifesting multiple courses of malaria. It is indispensable in cases of suspected polyetiological changes in the liver and in cases of recompensation payment claims.
ISSN:1641-9251