Assessment of the effect of plasma total protein and albumin levels of malaria patients on Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to chloroquine

Abstract

The WHO in-vivo seven day test was employed in the assessment of the possible effect of plasma total protein and albumin levels of adult malaria patients on Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to chloroquine in Calabar in 2000. Thirty adult malaria patients were involved in the study. Plasma total protein and albumin levels of the patients were determined before and after treatment with 25mg Choroquine base per kilogram body weight (C25). Clinical and parasitological evaluations were performed. The pretreatment as well as post treatment levels of these proteins for sensitive and resistant infections were not significantly different. The concentration of total chloroquine in the erythrocytes and whole blood were also independent of the protein levels of the patients in both sensitive and resistant cases. Thus demonstrating that the levels of these proteins play no role in the treatment outcomes.



Key Words: Total Protein, Albumin, Plasmodium Falciparum, Chloroquine Sensitivity.


(Global J Med Sci: 2003 2(1): 37-42)