A Case of Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Co-Infected with HIV Improved with Exchange Transfusion

Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2017 Dec;41(4):219-222. doi: 10.5152/tpd.2017.5584.

Abstract

In our country, within years, despite a dramatic drop in the number of patients with malaria, a dramatic increase in the number of patients with import malaria is noteworthy. A 32-year-old male patient presented with fever, shivering, malaise, and loss of appetite. He had travelled to West Africa. Laboratory findings were as follows: hemoglobin: 8.8 g/dL and anti-HIV: positive. Microscopic examinations of thin blood smears and thick blood preparations revealed widespread trophozoites. The presence of double-dotted ring forms and banana-shaped gametocytes resulted in Plasmodium falciparum malaria being diagnosed. The patient was started treatment with oral artemether 20 mg/ lumefantrine 120 mg 2×4 tablets and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. During his follow-up, hemoglobin levels regressed to 5.8 g/dL. The patient was diagnosed as having severe malaria. He visited our hematology unit, and exchange transfusion (EET) was recommended. Using an EET apheresis device, eight units of erythrocyte suspension was transfused. The cured patient was discharged. This case was found to be interesting and reminds us the possible presence of comorbid conditions associated with malaria in patients who have a history of travelling abroad. Although its effectiveness has not been proved thus far, as a striking result, EET was used as an alternative treatment in a patient with severe malaria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Africa South of the Sahara
  • Antimalarials / administration & dosage
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • Artemether
  • Artemisinins / administration & dosage
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use
  • Coinfection
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion
  • Ethanolamines / administration & dosage
  • Ethanolamines / therapeutic use
  • Fluorenes / administration & dosage
  • Fluorenes / therapeutic use
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Lumefantrine
  • Malaria, Falciparum / complications
  • Malaria, Falciparum / diagnosis*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Travel
  • Turkey

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Ethanolamines
  • Fluorenes
  • Artemether
  • Lumefantrine