Acute-phase proteins in pregnant Sudanese women with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Abstract

A case-control study was carried out in Kassala and Medani Maternity Hospitals in Sudan to investigate acute-phase proteins [haptoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and albumin] in three groups of pregnant women (32 in each arm) comprising those with severe . Plasmodium falciparum malaria or uncomplicated . P. falciparum malaria and healthy controls. Whilst there was no significant difference in the levels of albumin and haptoglobin, ferritin and CRP levels were significantly higher in pregnant women with severe . P. falciparum malaria. There were significant positive correlations between parasite count and haptoglobin, and medium positive correlations between parasite count and CRP. © 2012 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.