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Association between ovalocytosis and Plasmodium infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui1, Aongart Mahittikorn2, Frederick Ramirez Masangkay3

  • 1Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.

Scientific Reports
|May 3, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Ovalocytosis, a red blood cell condition, does not appear to offer protection against Plasmodium parasite infections. This meta-analysis found no significant association between ovalocytosis and malaria, suggesting further research is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Previous reports on ovalocytosis and protection against Plasmodium infection are conflicting.
  • A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize existing evidence on the association between ovalocytosis and malaria.

Approach:

  • A systematic literature search was performed across multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid, ProQuest) up to December 2022.
  • Included studies were assessed for quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
  • Data synthesis involved narrative synthesis and a random-effects meta-analysis to determine the pooled effect estimate.

Key Points:

  • Over half of the studies reviewed indicated no association between ovalocytosis and malaria infection or severity.
  • The meta-analysis of 11 studies found no statistically significant association between ovalocytosis and Plasmodium infection (P = 0.81).

Conclusions:

  • The current meta-analysis concludes there is no discernible association between ovalocytosis and Plasmodium infection.
  • Larger prospective studies are recommended to further investigate the role of ovalocytosis in malaria protection and disease severity.

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