Hematological Changes in Malarial Patients from National Hospital, Lahore

Abstract

Background: Malaria is well known worldwide parasitic disease with a high rate of morbidity and mortality that is usually found in tropics and subtropics areas. It is a major health problem with regular and sometimes long-standing endemic disease caused by Plasmodium species. Objective: The objective of this study was to observe malaria prevalence and malaria-related hematological changes in individuals that visited National Hospital and Medical Centre in Lahore, Pakistan.

Methodology: The retrospective study was conducted on malaria-suspected individuals that visited the hospital from 1st August 2015 to 31st December 2017. Blood of suspected individuals was analyzed for the presence of Histidine-rich protein-II from P. falciparum and Plasmodium Lactate dehydrogenase from Plasmodium species through rapid chromatographic immunoassay. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) was also performed by Cell Dyn Ruby and Sysmex XE-2100 machines.

Results: Among the 5030 study population, 139 cases were diagnosed with malarial disease. Forty-nine out of total of 139 patients were found anemic with 20 cases of microcytic blood picture. Marked thrombocytopenia was observed in 104 patients with varying degrees of mild 92, moderate 07 and severe 05 thrombocytopenia. The present study showed a majority of 102 cases with normal Hematocrit while 37 had low hematocrit. Normo-WBC count was observed in 107 patients, while 58 cases had elevated neutrophils with normal Eosinophils in 134 cases, Basophils in 138 and monocyte count in 91 cases. Moreover, results also showed lymphopenia and lymphocytosis in 87 and 4 cases respectively.

Conclusion: The study reveals the presence of hematological abnormalities including anemia, mild to severe thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia and mild leukocytosis in malarial patients. Management of malarial patients can be coupled with general awareness among public and health care officials for the control of malarial vectors in combating malaria and can be enhanced uncomplicated cases without the use of blood transfusion