Computational modelling of cardiac electrophysiological changes in malarial fever

Abstract

Cardiac function is impaired in severe malarial fever, and ECGs show changes associated with repolarization. These could contribute to mortality via ventricular arrhythmia. The cardiac effects could be due to the malarial parasite load in the heart, specific cardio-toxic effects of the parasite or cardio-toxic effects of antimalarial agents. We construct a simple 1-dimensional electrophysiological model for the physico-chemical changes clinically observed during malarial fever: with temperature, pH and [ionic]plasma changes. The model can quantitatively reproduce the tachycardia and QTc prolongation seen in the adult, and shortening seen in the child during malarial fever.