Minor liver profile dysfunctions in Plasmodium vivax, P. malaria and P. ovale patients and normalization after treatment

Korean J Parasitol. 2006 Dec;44(4):295-302. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2006.44.4.295.

Abstract

Liver function tests were performed in 61 vivax, 54 malariae and 15 ovale malaria patients who were admitted to Bangkok Hospital for Tropical Diseases between 2001 and 2004. The objective of the study was to evaluate changes in hepatic biochemical indices before and after treatment with artemisinin derivatives. On admission and prior to treatment, hepatic dysfunction was found among the 3 groups. Serum liver function tests and physical examinations were performed weekly during the 28-day follow-up period. Initially elevated serum bilirubin and diminished albumin returned to normal within 2 weeks of treatment. Serum alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferases returned to within normal limits within 3 weeks. We conclude that patients with Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale infections had slightly elevated serum bilirubin, aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels, and hypoalbuminemia. These minor abnormalities returned to normal within a few weeks after treatment with therapies based on artemisinin derivatives.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use*
  • Bilirubin / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver / physiopathology*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Malaria / drug therapy*
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Malaria / physiopathology
  • Malaria, Vivax / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Vivax / parasitology
  • Malaria, Vivax / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmodium malariae / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium malariae / pathogenicity
  • Plasmodium ovale / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium ovale / pathogenicity
  • Plasmodium vivax / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium vivax / pathogenicity
  • Serum Albumin
  • Sesquiterpenes / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Artemisinins
  • Serum Albumin
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • artemisinin
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Bilirubin