ABSTRACT In recent years, the number of cases with severe
Plasmodium vivax malaria has shown an increasing trend. It is, therefore, important to identify routine
laboratory markers that best characterize the
acute disease phase and can serve as a tool for clinical follow-up of
patients. In a
cohort study, we followed 87
patients with acute P. vivax monoinfection acquired in an endemic region of the Brazilian
Amazon. Forty-two different biochemical and hematological
parameters frequently tested in clinical routine were evaluated at the acute phase and the convalescent phase. A total of 42
laboratory tests were performed biochemical
parameters measured were
serum lipids levels,
aminotransferases,
bilirubin,
amylase,
glucose,
urea,
creatinine,
albumin,
globulin,
uric acid,
C-reactive protein, and alpha-1-
acid glycoprotein. Hematological
parameters included total and differential
white blood cell and
platelet counts,
hemoglobin concentration,
mean platelet volume,
platelet width distribution, and plateletcrit. Our results show that several biochemical and hematological
parameters were associated with acute phase P.
vivax malaria and these
parameters reverted to
normal values in the convalescent phase. The use of these
parameters during
diagnosis and follow-up of the
infection is a useful clinical tool to evaluate the
clinical course and
therapeutic response of
patients with uncomplicated
vivax malaria.