Laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation is associated with a fatal outcome in children with cerebral malaria despite an absence of clinically evident thrombosis or bleeding.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A procoagulant state is implicated in cerebral malaria (CM) pathogenesis, but whether disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is present or associated with a fatal outcome is unclear.

Objectives

To determine the frequency of overt DIC, according to ISTH criteria, in children with fatal and non-fatal CM.

Methods/patients

Malawian children were recruited into a prospective cohort study in the following diagnostic groups: retinopathy-positive CM (n = 140), retinopathy-negative CM (n = 36), non-malarial coma (n = 14), uncomplicated malaria (UM), (n = 91), mild non-malarial febrile illness (n = 85), and healthy controls (n = 36). Assays in the ISTH DIC criteria were performed, and three fibrin-related markers, i.e. protein C, antithrombin, and soluble throm

SUBMITTER: Moxon CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4605993 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature