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The relationship between the haemoglobin concentration and the haematocrit in Plasmodium falciparum malaria | Journal Article / Research | MSF Science Portal
Journal Article
|Research

The relationship between the haemoglobin concentration and the haematocrit in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Lee SJ, Stepniewska K, Anstey NM, Ashley EA, Barnes KI, Binh TQ, D'Alessandro U, Day NPJ, de Vries PJ, Dorsey G, Guthmann JP, Mayxay M, Newton PN, Nosten F, Olliaro PL, Osario L, Pinoges LLP, Price RN, Rowland M, Smithuis FM, Taylor R, White NJ
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Malaria is a very important cause of anaemia in tropical countries. Anaemia is assessed either by measurement of the haematocrit or the haemoglobin concentration. For comparisons across studies, it is often necessary to derive one measure from the other.

METHODS: Data on patients with slide-confirmed uncomplicated falciparum malaria were pooled from 85 antimalarial drug trials conducted in 25 different countries, to assess the haemoglobin/haematocrit relationship at different time points in malaria. Using a linear random effects model, a conversion equation for haematocrit was derived based on 3,254 measurements from various time points (ranging from day 0 to day 63) from 1,810 patients with simultaneous measurements of both parameters. Haemoglobin was also estimated from haematocrit with the commonly used threefold conversion.

RESULTS: A good fit was obtained using Haematocrit = 5.62 + 2.60 * Haemoglobin. On average, haematocrit/3 levels were slightly higher than haemoglobin measurements with a mean difference (+/- SD) of -0.69 (+/- 1.3) for children under the age of 5 (n = 1,440 measurements from 449 patients).

CONCLUSION: Based on this large data set, an accurate and robust conversion factor both in acute malaria and in convalescence was obtained. The commonly used threefold conversion is also valid.

Subject Area

malaria

Languages

English
DOI
10.1186/1475-2875-7-149
Published Date
01 Aug 2008
PubMed ID
18673575
Journal
Malaria Journal
Volume | Issue | Pages
Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages 149
Issue Date
2008-01-01
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