Elevated cerebrospinal fluid tumour necrosis factor is associated with acute and long-term neurocognitive impairment in cerebral malaria.

Document Type

Article

Department

Paediatrics and Child Health (East Africa)

Abstract

Systemic tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) may contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria (CM) by promoting endothelial activation and parasite sequestration. However, less is known about the role of central nervous system (CNS) TNF-α in CM. We assessed plasma (n=249) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (n=167) TNF-α levels in Ugandan children with CM, plasma TNF-α in Ugandan community control children (n=198) and CSF TNF-α in North American control children who had recovered from leukaemia (n=13). Plasma and CSF TNF-α were measured by magnetic bead assay. We compared plasma and CSF TNF-α levels in children with CM to mortality, acute and chronic neurologic deficits and long-term neurocognitive impairment. Plasma and CSF TNF-α levels were higher in CM than control children.

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Parasite Immunology

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1111/pim.12438

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