Lack of difference in iron status assessed by soluble transferrin receptor between children with cerebral malaria and those with non-cerebral malaria

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) Vol. 45; no. 3; p. 166
• Main Authors: Kivibidila, S, Warrier, R P, Ode, D, Yu, L, Tshefu, K A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - blood; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - etiology; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Ferritins - blood; Hemoglobins - analysis; Humans; Infant; Inflammation; Malaria, Cerebral - complications; Malaria, Cerebral - immunology; Malaria, Falciparum - complications; Malaria, Falciparum - immunology; Male; Receptors, Transferrin - blood
• ISSN: 0142-6338
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/45.3.166

We conducted this study to determine whether children with cerebral malaria are less likely to have tissue iron deficiency than those with non-cerebral malaria. Iron status was assessed by soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), serum ferritin, and haemoglobin in 44 Zaïrian children: 15 with cerebral malaria, 14 with non-cerebral malaria, and 15 without malaria (age range 0.5-16 years). Although there was no significant difference in the mean concentrations of sTfR, serum ferritin, or haemoglobin between either group of patients, a higher percentage of children with cerebral malaria (27 per cent) than those with non-cerebral malaria (14 per cent) or controls (7%) had sTfR levels above 7.3 mg/l (suggestive of tissue iron deficiency). A higher percentage of children with cerebral malaria (40 per cent) than with non-cerebral malaria (29 per cent) or controls (20 per cent) also had either serum ferritin < 100 micrograms/l and inflammation or sTfR > 7.3 mg/l or both. The data suggest that children with cerebral malaria are as likely to have tissue iron deficiency as those with non-cerebral malaria.