Lipids Levels in Patients with Uncomplicated Malaria Due to Plasmodium falciparum

Changes in lipid profile are common in adult patients with malaria, but only a few studies have evaluated such lipid abnormalities in uncomplicated falciparum malaria cases from the South America. This is a prospective study designed to evaluate transient lipid abnormalities in adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria as well as to assess if the parasite count correlates with the lipid levels at admission. A total of 60 adult males were included in the study, of which 30 had the slide-confirmed infection by P. falciparum. Serial blood samples were collected at admission and on days 3, 14 and 43. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) were measured by colorimetric methods. At admission, the levels of total cholesterol, LDL and HDL were significantly lower in malaria cases compared to healthy controls, but the levels of triglycerides were significantly higher in these patients. There are significant changes in lipid levels in the follow up. The lipid levels were not associated with the parasite count. In conclusion, there are significant lipid abnormalities in the adults with low levels of P. falciparum infection and mild signs and symptoms of the disease, which are not associated with parasitemia at admission.