Lipid parameters in a hyperendemic area for malaria.

BACKGROUND: This is a cross-sectional study with the objective to analyze lipid parameters of individuals living in Brazilian Amazon, where malaria is endemic. METHODS: The city chosen was Anajás in the state of Pará, Brazil, in Amazon region. The study analyzed lipid parameters of 46 subjects, 31 male and 15 female, aged between 20-60 years without malaria, and residents for more than five years in this city considered an area hyperendemic for disease. It was established three groups according to the number of previous episodes of malaria: group I (n = 22) one to five episodes, group II (n = 20) six to ten episodes and group III (n = 4) eleven to fifteen episodes. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol), and low density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) were measured and was confected the thick smear for malaria of all individuals. RESULTS: The hypocholesterolemia, the main characteristic of hyperendemic areas for malaria, was confirmed, but the mean of HDL cholesterol levels were 9.78% higher than the reference of World Health Organization. CONCLUSION: Although other factors might have contributed to lipid profile, the constant exposure to infection by Plasmodium, according to the physiology of the parasite, may have played an important role in defining the lipid parameters observed for this region. Further studies, such as the case-control is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

[Clinical and laboratorial alterations in Plasmodium vivax malaria patients and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency treated with primaquine at 0.50 mg/kg/day]. / Alterações clínicolaboratoriais em pacientes com malária por Plasmodium vivax e deficiência de glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase tratados com 0.50 mg/kg/dia de primaquina.

The adverse effects of primaquine (0.50 mg/kg/day) were investigated in eleven patients with vivax malaria (three patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency). Clinical and laboratorial alterations indicated acute hemolysis in only the enzymopenic patients and treatment was interrupted. Our results suggest that screening for G6PD deficiency should be carried out in patients with vivax malaria infection in order to avoid complications due to primaquine.