Lipid Peroxidation And Vivax Malaria

Objectives: Plasmodium vivax &Plasmodium falciparum are the important species causing malaria in Indian subcontinent. P. vivax usually causes uncomplicated malaria. Whatever be the cause of malaria weather P. falciparum or P.vivax, there is variable degree of oxidative stress. This oxidative stress leads to peroxidation of membrane lipids. Lipid peroxidation is measured in terms of metabolite malondialdehyde (MDA). This study was designed to estimate lipid peroxidation in vivax malaria only. Methods: The study population was comprised of 200 patients (age range18-25 yrs) and 50 age and sex matched, population-based healthy volunteers were included as controls. MDA in the serum of patients and that of healthy controls were estimated. Calculation of parasitemia: The parasite count (parasites/μL) was done by counting 200 white blood cells and the number expressed on the basis of 8,000 WBC /μL. Results: Mean MDA level in the healthy controls was 1.15±0.20 n mole/ml (N=50), and the mean MDA level in the vivax cases was 2.52±1.13 n mole/ml (N=200). Which was significantly higher as compared to the controls (P<0.05). Degree of parasitemia was also calculated. The degree of parasitemia has positive correlation with that of serum MDA level. The coefficient of correlation between serum MDA level and parasitemia was +0.95, which shows strong positive correlation. Conclusions: There is significant lipid peroxidation in the cases infected with P. vivax. Lipid peroxidation increases as the parasitemia increases i.e. lipid peroxidation has strong positive correlation with that of parasitemia.