Increased platelet factor 3 activity in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Platelet count and platelet factor 3 (pf 3) availability were determined in twenty five febrile subjects with no parasitologic Plasmodium falciparum malaria and in thirty eight febrile subjects with parasitologic malaria. Eighteen age and sex matched afebrile subjects without parasitologic malaria served as controls. Platelet counts were significantly lower in the malaria patients (p < 0.01) and in the non-parasitologic but febrile subjects (p < 0.01) than the control group. Platelet factor 3 activity was significantly higher in the febrile group (p < 0.01) than in the control subjects. Parasite density did not correlate either with platelet count or with platelet factor 3 clotting time.