Evaluation of haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red cell indices in pre- and post-anti malaria drug treatment in plasmodium falciparum malaria infected and control individuals

Abstract

This study was to evaluate haemoglobin concentration, packed cell voluFme and red cell indices in pre
and post anti-malaria drug treatment in Plasmodium falciparum malaria infected and control individuals.
The study was conducted at Federal Medical Center, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria; between November
2012 and March 2013; malaria infected adult individuals; presented with signs and symptoms of malaria
infection was used for the study. 202 blood samples were collected twice from the same malaria infected
individuals; grouped as pre-treatment and post anti-malaria drug treatment. 102 blood samples from
apparently healthy individuals were collected for control; both malaria infected subjects and controls
were within the age 15-64 years of both sex. 4ml of blood sample was collected and dispensed into di
potassium ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (K2EDTA) vaccutainer bottles for haemoglobin concentration,
packed cell volume and red cell indices were analysed using haematology analyser (sysmex automated
haematology analyser model kx-21n, maunfactured by sysmex co-operation kobe, Japan), thick blood
film was made and stained with Giemsa’s staining technique for malaria parasite screening, the
procedure was described by Monica Cheesbrough, 2005 . Data obtained was analysed using SPSS
version 16. The result of this present study showed that, the mean ± SD of red blood cell, haemoglobin
concentration, packed cell volume, red cell indices (MCV, MCH and MCHC) and red cell distribution width
in post treatment were significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to pre treatment and control. The study
showed that, anaemia is the common haematological changes in malaria P. falciparum infection, the wide
use of more effective anti-malaria would probably result in greater clinical and haematological benefits.
However, the prevalence of malaria infection in male was higher compared to female.