The anaemia of Plasmodium vivax malaria

Nicholas (Nick) DOUGLAS, Nicholas Anstey, Pierre Buffet, Jeanne Rini Poespoprodjo, Tsin Yeo, Nicholas J White, Ric Price

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

174 Citations (Scopus)
67 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax threatens nearly half the worlds population and is a significant impediment to achievement of the millennium development goals. It is an important, but incompletely understood, cause of anaemia. This review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and consequences of vivax-associated anaemia. Young children are at high risk of clinically significant and potentially severe vivax-associated anaemia, particularly in countries where transmission is intense and relapses are frequent. Despite reaching lower densities than Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax causes similar absolute reduction in red blood cell mass because it results in proportionately greater removal of uninfected red blood cells. Severe vivax anaemia is associated with substantial indirect mortality and morbidity through impaired resilience to co-morbidities, obstetric complications and requirement for blood transfusion. Anaemia can be averted by early and effective anti-malarial treatment.
Original languageEnglish
Article number135
Pages (from-to)1-14
Number of pages14
JournalMalaria Journal
Volume11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The anaemia of Plasmodium vivax malaria'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this