The effect of persistent malarial infections on haemoglobin A2 levels in Liberian children

Children two to nine years old from an area of holoendemic malaria in northern Liberia had mean HbA2 and haematocrit values significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than others from a neighbouring town where malaria is hypoendemic. After regular administration of chloroquine over two years to 38 children living in a holoendemic village, their mean HbA2 rose from 2.1%, SE +/- 0.04, to 2.6%, SE +/- 0.08 (P less than 0.001) and their mean haematocrit from 0.348, SEM +/- 0.004, to 0.382, SE +/- 0.004 (P less than 0.001), values similar to those of children from the neighbouring town. In another village where chloroquine was not given regularly, mean HbA2, haematocrit and malariometric indices were little changed at the end of the two-year period. We conclude that persistent malarial parasitaemia was the main factor in the relatively low values of the village children. Although it is not clear how malaria depresses HbA, the findings were consistent with the hypothesis that chronic malaria induces iron-deficiency.