Hyponatraemia and hypokalaemia relationship with alterations of glucose, cholesterol and total protein levels during human infection with Plasmodium falciparum

AbstractElectrolytes, particularly sodium and potassium, are highly paramount for the uptake of nutrients that are required for the proliferation, differentiation and survival ofPlasmodium falciparum in the host. Sequel to this essential role, information on the interplay between electrolytes and nutrients would add to the current understanding of the malarial infection pathophysiology. To this end, we carried out a hospital-based cross-sectional study and estimated the serum levels of sodium, potassium, glucose, cholesterol and total protein in bothP. falciparum-infected patients and apparently healthy patients. Our results showed that the levels of sodium, potassium, glucose, cholesterol and total protein were significantly (p <  0.05) reduced compared to their respective control groups. In addition, glucose, cholesterol and total protein had a non-significant (p >  0.05) association with the sodium and potassium, respectively, inP. falciparum-infected patients. Evidence from the present study demonstrated thatP. falciparum-induced depletion in sodium and potassium seems not to play a significant role in the alterations of glucose, cholesterol and total protein duringP. falciparum infection.
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research