A Study of Lipid Parameters in Malarial Patients Attending a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Mangaluru

Abstract

Aims: The study aims to estimate the lipid parameters among Plasmodium vivax and mixed malaria (P. falciparum and P. vivax) infected patients. Study Design: This was a prospective observational and comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: The present study was undertaken in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry at A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AJIMS), Mangaluru, Karnataka between Dec 2017 and May 2018. Methods: It was a prospective observational comparative study. A total of 100 patients (50 P. vivax and 50 mixed malaria cases) were consecutively taken in the study. The lipid profiles of the cases were compared with that of 100 healthy volunteers (control group). Data was collected and analysed. Results: Serum total cholesterol, High- Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Low- Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly low(p<0.001) in cases and serum Triglycerides (TG) and Very Low- Density Lipoprotein levels (VLDL) were higher in cases (p<0.001) than in control. There were no significant changes in mean serum lipids profiles between P. vivax and Mixed Malaria groups. Conclusion: The derangement in lipid profiles in falciparum malaria was characteristic and specific for the disease. Characteristic changes were lower HDL, LDL and total cholesterol levels with higher TG and VLDL levels in comparison to control groups. These findings may be of diagnostic and prognostic value.