A Study of Lipid Parameters in Malarial Patients Attending a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Mangaluru

Aims:The study aims to estimate the lipid parameters among Plasmodium vivaxand mixed malaria (P.falciparum and P. vivax) infected patients. Study Design:This was a prospective observational and comparative study.Place and Duration of Study:The present study was undertaken in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry at A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AJIMS), Mangaluru, Karnatakabetween Dec 2017 and May 2018.Methods:It was a prospective observational comparative study. A total of 100 patients (50 P. vivaxand 50 mixed malaria cases) were consecutively taken in the study. The lipid profiles of the cases were compared with that of100 healthy volunteers (control group). Data was collected and analysed. Results:Serum total cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly low(p<0.001) in cases and serum Triglycerides (TG) andVery Low-Density Lipoprotein levels (VLDL) were higher in cases (p<0.001) than in control. There were no significant changes in mean serum lipids profiles between P. vivaxand Mixed Malaria groups. Conclusion:The derangement in lipid profiles in falciparum malaria was characteristic and specific for the disease. Characteristic changes were lower HDL, LDL and total cholesterol levels with higher TG and VLDL levels in comparison to control groups. These findings may be of diagnostic and prognostic value.