Imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in HIV-infected patients: a report of two cases

Malar J. 2012 Apr 27:11:136. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-136.

Abstract

As HIV becomes a chronic infection, an increasing number of HIV-infected patients are travelling to malaria-endemic areas. Association of malaria with HIV/AIDS can be clinically severe. Severe falciparum malaria is a medical emergency that is associated with a high mortality, even when treated in an Intensive Care Unit. This article describes two cases of HIV-positive patients, who returned from malaria-endemic areas and presented a parasitaemia > 5% of erythrocytes and clinical signs of severe falciparum malaria, both with > 350 CD4 cell count/μl, absence of chemoprophylaxis and successful response. Factors like drug interactions and the possible implication of anti-malarial therapy bioavailability are all especially interesting in HIV-malaria co-infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antimalarials / administration & dosage
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / diagnosis*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parasitemia / diagnosis
  • Parasitemia / pathology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification*
  • Travel
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antimalarials