Investigation of the Association between Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) Levels and Malaria Pathogenicity and Severity

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to preliminarily investigate the possible role of PGD₂ in malaria pathogenicity/severity. Plasma and urine samples were collected from a total of 11 healthy Thai subjects and 47 Burmese patients with malaria (Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax with different levels of parasitemia and mixed infection). There appeared to be the relationship between PGD₂ levels in both plasma and urine samples and malaria disease pathogenicity/severity. However, due to limited sample size and technical problems relating to the assay method for determination of PGD₂ (EIA), significant correlation was only clearly seen with urinary PGD₂ levels in both P. falciparum and P. vivax. In vitro study however, could not confirm the production of PGD₂ by P. falciparum (PfPGD2). Further study with larger sample size with improved assay performance is required to definitely conclude on the association between PGD₂ levels malaria disease pathogenicity/severity.