Changes in plasma lipoproteins in acute malaria

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were monitored in 16 patients with acute malaria. Plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels decreased dramatically during the first 3 d after diagnosis to around 0.2 mmol l-1 (reference range 0.8-1.6 mmol l-1). The low HDL levels were related to parasitaemia, and rapidly recovered after successful therapy. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were moderately increased and plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations decreased during the course of infection. The mechanisms underlying the selective and pronounced decline in HDL cholesterol concentration remain obscure, but the reproducible phenomenon may be useful as an additional diagnostic tool in suspected malaria infection.