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Published on: May 16, 2013
Thrombocytopenia in falciparum malaria is associated with high concentrations of IL-10
Climent Casals-Pascual1, Oscar Kai, Charles R J C Newton
1Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and National Blood Service Oxford Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Insights
Severe malaria in children is complex. Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) correlate with high interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, suggesting a protective role for IL-10 in malaria outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Platelets are implicated in severe malaria pathophysiology.
- Thrombocytopenia's association with severe malaria outcomes is unclear.
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is linked to favorable outcomes in severe malaria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between thrombocytopenia and cytokine levels in Kenyan children with severe malaria.
- To elucidate the complex role of platelets in severe malaria.
Main Methods:
- Studied thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150 x 10(9)/L) in Kenyan children.
- Measured cytokine levels, focusing on interleukin-10 (IL-10).
- Correlated platelet counts with IL-10 levels and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Thrombocytopenia strongly correlated with high levels of IL-10.
- High IL-10 levels are generally associated with better outcomes in severe malaria.
- This suggests a potential mechanism for IL-10 modifying severe malaria prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Thrombocytopenia in severe malaria is linked to elevated IL-10.
- This finding helps explain the paradoxical relationship between low platelets and disease outcome.
- IL-10 may play a protective role, modifying severe malaria's course.
Abstract:
Over the last decade, a number of observations have suggested that platelets may play a role in the pathophysiology of severe malaria. However, somewhat paradoxically, thrombocytopenia is not associated clearly with outcome. We studied the relationship between thrombocytopenia and cytokines in Kenyan children with severe malaria and showed that thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150 x 10(9)/L) strongly correlates with high levels of interleukin (IL)-10. Several studies have shown that high levels of IL-10 are associated with a favorable outcome in severe malaria. Taken together, these data suggest why thrombocytopenia has a complex relationship with severe disease and suggest one mechanism whereby IL-10 may modify the outcome of severe disease.
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