[Automated erythrocytapheresis as treatment of severe malaria. Study of 6 patients]. / Eritrocitaféresis automatizada en el tratamiento de la malaria grave: estudio de 6 pacientes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The high mortality attributable to severe malaria by Plasmodium falciparum is related to the grade of parasitemia. Automated erithrocytapheresis (AE) is a safe alternative to exchange transfussion, with the same potential benefits but less undesirable side effects. Literature on this technique is scarce, consisting of isolated reports or short series. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical picture and outcome observed in 6 severely ill malaria patients in whom EA was applied as complimentary therapeutic technique. PATIENTS AND METHOD: An observational prospective descriptive study was carried out of all inpatients with severe malaria in a single hospital between 1996 and 2006 in whom clinical, epidemiological and parsitological data were analyzed. RESULTS: This series included 2 women and 4 men, with a median age of 43 years. In all cases, the infection was acquired in West Sub-Saharan Africa. No patient had received antimalarial prophylaxis and all were infected by Plasmodium falciparum. The grade of parasitemia was between 10% and 35%. The number of severity criteria was between one and 4, the more frequent being hyperbilirrubinemia. All patients received conventional intravenous treatment. The total length of admission oscillated between 5 and 37 days, while the length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit varied between one and 17 days. All patients survived. CONCLUSIONS: AE is a safe technique, with the same advantages that blood exchange but lacking many of its disadvantages. A isolated parasitemia above 10%, or when a parasitaemia above of 5% is associated with any additional World Health Organization-2000 criteria of clinical severity, should constitute an indication for AE.

Eritrocitaféresis automatizada en el tratamiento de la malaria grave: estudio de 6 pacientes / Automated erythrocytapheresis as treatment of severe malaria. Study of 6 patients

FUNDAMENTO Y OBJETIVO: La elevada mortalidad de la malaria grave por Plasmodium falciparum serelaciona con el grado de parasitemia. La eritrocitaféresis automatizada (EA) es una alternativasegura a la exanguinotransfusión, con los mismos beneficios potenciales pero menores efectossecundarios. Sin embargo, son escasas las referencias sobre la eficacia e indicaciones de estatécnica. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido describir las características clínicas y evolución de6 pacientes con malaria grave en los que se empleó esta técnica terapéutica complementaria.PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Se ha realizado un estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo de todoslos pacientes con malaria ingresados en un único hospital entre 1996 y 2006. En cadacaso se recogieron los datos clínicos, epidemiológicos y parasitológicos básicos.RESULTADOS: La serie se compone de 2 mujeres y 4 varones, con una media de edad de 43años. En todos los casos la infección fue adquirida en África subsahariana. Ningún pacientehabía efectuado quimioprofilaxis antipalúdica y la especie causal fue Plasmodium falciparum.El grado de parasitemia osciló entre el 10 y el 35%. De los criterios de gravedad, cuyo númeroosciló entre 1 y 4, el más frecuente fue la hiperbilirrubinemia. Todos los pacientes recibierontratamiento convencional. La duración total del ingreso osciló entre 5 y 37 días, y la estanciaen la unidad de vigilancia intensiva, entre 1 y 17 días. Todos los pacientes sobrevivieron.CONCLUSIONES: En resumen, la EA es una técnica segura, con las mismas ventajas que la exanguinotransfusión,pero sin muchos de sus efectos adversos. De acuerdo con los datos de la bibliografíay estas observaciones, podemos señalar que una parasitemia aislada mayor del 10%o una parasitemia superior al 5% asociada a algún criterio de gravedad son indicación para larealización de EA

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The high mortality attributable to severe malaria by Plasmodium falciparumis related to the grade of parasitemia. Automated erithrocytapheresis (AE) is a safe alternativeto exchange transfussion, with the same potential benefits but less undesirable sideeffects. Literature on this technique is scarce, consisting of isolated reports or short series. Theobjective of this study is to describe the clinical picture and outcome observed in 6 severely illmalaria patients in whom EA was applied as complimentary therapeutic technique.PATIENTS AND METHOD: An observational prospective descriptive study was carried out of all inpatientswith severe malaria in a single hospital between 1996 and 2006 in whom clinical, epidemiologicaland parsitological data were analyzed.RESULTS: This series included 2 women and 4 men, with a median age of 43 years. In all cases,the infection was acquired in West Sub-Saharan Africa. No patient had received antimalarialprophylaxis and all were infected by Plasmodium falciparum. The grade of parasitemia was between10% and 35%. The number of severity criteria was between one and 4, the more frequentbeing hyperbilirrubinemia. All patients received conventional intravenous treatment. Thetotal length of admission oscillated between 5 and 37 days, while the length of stay in the IntensiveCare Unit varied between one and 17 days. All patients survived.CONCLUSIONS: AE is a safe technique, with the same advantages that blood exchange but lackingmany of its disadvantages. A isolated parasitemia above 10%, or when a parasitaemia above of5% is associated with any additional World Health Organization-2000 criteria of clinical severity,should constitute an indication for AE