Myocardial dysfunction in severe falciparum malaria

J Trop Pediatr. 2010 Feb;56(1):67-8. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmp050. Epub 2009 Jun 12.

Abstract

Severe malaria causes multiorgan dysfunction, which is the predominant reason for mortality in these children. Cardiac enzymes have been elevated and cardiac involvement has been suspected in some of these children, however, clear cut echocardiographic evidence for it was not possible. There were isolated reports of myocardial dysfunction in malaria in adults but none in children. We present two such children with cardiac involvement and myocardial dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cardiomyopathies / etiology
  • Child
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / complications
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / physiopathology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification*
  • Pregnancy
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Failure
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antimalarials