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[Acute pernicious malaria treated with exchange transfusion]
L Mathon1, C A Recoque, B Allaouchiche
1Département d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpital de l'Hôtel-Dieu, Lyon, France.
Annales Francaises D'Anesthesie Et De Reanimation
|July 31, 1999
Summary
A severe case of pernicious malaria in a traveler was successfully treated with antimalarial drugs and an exchange blood transfusion. This case highlights the effectiveness of aggressive treatment, including blood exchange, for life-threatening malaria.
Area of Science:
- Tropical Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- Malaria remains a significant global health threat, particularly in tropical regions.
- Acute pernicious malaria can lead to severe complications and high mortality rates.
Observation:
- A 53-year-old patient presented with symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy after returning from Ivory Coast.
- Diagnosis revealed acute pernicious malaria with altered consciousness, hyperthermia, jaundice, hepatomegaly, and oliguria.
Findings:
- Blood tests confirmed acute renal failure, pancytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, metabolic acidosis, and 12% parasitemia.
- Intravenous quinine and doxycycline were initiated, followed by exchange blood transfusion (erythrapheresis and plasmapheresis).
Implications:
- Exchange blood transfusion may be a critical intervention for severe, life-threatening malaria.
- Prompt and aggressive management is crucial for improving outcomes in pernicious malaria cases.
- This case underscores the importance of considering malaria in febrile travelers returning from endemic areas.