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Reduced Red Blood Cell Deformability in Vivax Malaria
Jeyamalar T Thurai Rathnam1, Matthew J Grigg2,3, Arjen M Dondorp4,5
1Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|October 7, 2024
Summary
Red blood cell (RBC) deformability is reduced in Plasmodium vivax malaria, impacting disease. This reduced RBC deformability, even in uninfected cells, may contribute to malaria pathogenesis and splenic retention.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Reduced red blood cell (RBC) deformability is a known factor in Plasmodium falciparum malaria pathogenesis.
- The impact of Plasmodium vivax malaria on whole-blood RBC deformability (RBC-D) remains less understood.
- RBC deformability is crucial for microcirculation and splenic filtration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and characterize whole-blood RBC deformability in patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria.
- To compare RBC deformability in P. vivax malaria with healthy controls and P. falciparum malaria.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a laser-assisted optical rotational cell analyzer.
- Measured RBC deformability in fresh whole-blood samples from Malaysian patients.
- Included cohorts of patients with vivax malaria (n=25), P. falciparum malaria (n=90), and healthy controls (n=15).
Main Results:
- Whole-blood RBC deformability was significantly reduced in patients with vivax malaria compared to controls.
- The reduction in RBC deformability was less pronounced than that observed in falciparum malaria.
- The majority of RBCs analyzed in vivax malaria samples were uninfected.
Conclusions:
- Reduced RBC deformability is a feature of Plasmodium vivax malaria, affecting both infected and uninfected cells.
- This diminished RBC-D may play a role in the pathogenesis of vivax malaria.
- Splenic retention of uninfected RBCs could be a consequence of reduced deformability in P. vivax malaria.
