[PGE1-assisted treatment of microcirculation disturbance in complicated falciparum malaria]

This article reports the course of a complicated malaria in a 41-year-old male patient. After spending several months in Mali, the patient decompensated shortly after onset of the first symptoms. Under the signs of a multi-organ failure and with an initial parasitic load of 25%, the patient developed a microcirculation disturbance in the acra. In addition to sepsis-induced disseminated microthrombosis, high-dose catecholamine treatment contributes to the genesis of this disease with a high clinical probability. To improve the peripheral blood circulation, intravenous treatment with the synthetic prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) alprostadil with 20 μg (1-0-1) was carried out over a period of 21 days. Relevant circulatory depression as a side effect did not occur. The microcirculatory disturbances were no longer evident and the necrosis healed. Furthermore, the clearance course of the plasmodia was delayed under artemisinin-based combination therapy. Prolonged hemolysis required multiple transfusions.