Effect of Plasmodium falciparum malaria on plasma fibrinopeptide-A (FpA) concentration

Plasma Fibrinopeptide-A (FpA) concentrations were determined using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in patients with acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection and in 30 healthy controls. The mean FpA levels of the malaria patients were significantly raised (p < 0.001). The patients' FpA level correlated positively with malaria parasitaemia, but negatively with plasma fibrinogen concentration. A week after commencement of chloroquine therapy and subsequent disappearance of malaria parasites from the thick blood films, the patients' FpA levels decreased significantly from pre-treatment values. It is suggested that the elevated FpA and reduced plasma fibrinogen levels in the patients probably indicate a more widespread existence of overt coagulation defect in acute malaria infection.