HIV infection has a profound effect on hematological factors but not on electrolyte profile of Malawian adults presenting with uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria

Abstract

Aim

Although malaria and HIV infections independently affect the electrolyte and hematologic profiles, little is known of how these profiles are affected in individuals coinfected with malaria and HIV. We therefore conducted this study to investigate the electrolyte and hematologic profiles of Malawian adults presenting with either uncomplicated malaria (UM), severe malaria (SM), and those presenting with HIV and UM or HIV and SM.

Methods

Study participants were recruited at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, and malaria infection was confirmed by rapid diagnostic test and malaria slides, and full blood count, HIV, and wet chemistries were analyzed.

Results

Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride levels of all 4 study groups were similar to those of healthy controls. Both HIV-infected groups (UM and SM) had lower red blood cell counts and lower hemoglobin concentration than the reference range. Platelet counts were lower in both HIV-uninfected SM cases (64×10⁹/L) and in the HIV-infected SM cases (66×10⁹/L) compared to the reference range (115–290×10⁹/L). HIV− UM cases had higher proportion and absolute counts of neutrophils and white blood cell counts compared to the HIV+ UM cases.

Conclusion

HIV infection did not affect the electrolyte profile of Malawian adults presenting with UM or SM but had an effect on red blood cells, Hb concentration, neutrophils, and platelet counts.

Keywords:

• Plasmodium falciparum malaria
• HIV infection
• electrolytes
• hematologic values
• HIV-malaria co-infection
• Malawian Adults

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the 2 research nurses, Norah Ndalapa and Lucia Mbulaje, for their assistance in the recruitment of the study participants. We also thank all the study participants without whom this study could not have been possible. This study was funded by the Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW) Intern fellowship to Alinane Munyenyembe.

Author contributions

WLM, JM, and JH conceived the study. JH, JM, and AM oversaw clinical aspects of the study. WLM, AM, and JH performed the investigations. AM and KG analyzed the data. WLM, AM, TSN, JH, JM, and KG wrote the report and all authors reviewed the report. All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and critically revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.