Malaria-induced splenic infarction

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hematology
• Tropical Medicine

Background:

• Splenic infarction is an uncommon but serious complication of malaria.
• Plasmodium vivax is increasingly recognized as a cause of splenic infarction.

Observation:

• A systematic review identified 40 cases of malaria-associated splenic infarction from 1960-2012.
• Plasmodium vivax accounted for the majority of cases (23/40).
• Complications included splenectomy (5.0%) and splenic rupture (12.5%).

Findings:

• The median time to diagnosis was 8.5 days.
• Treatment led to improved findings in 88.9% of patients on imaging follow-up.
• All patients survived, except one with concurrent cerebral malaria.

Implications:

• Clinicians should suspect splenic infarction in malaria patients presenting with left upper quadrant pain.
• Prompt diagnosis and management of malaria are crucial to prevent splenic complications.
• This review highlights the significance of P. vivax in splenic infarction and emphasizes the need for clinical vigilance.