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Malabsorption in Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria^*

Walter W. Karney AND Myron J. Tong

Impaired gastrointestinal function was detected during the acute phase of illness in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Nine of 11 (82%) had diminished D-xylose absorption, 6 of 10 (60%) had decreased absorption of vitamin B₁₂, and 5 of 11 (45%) had low serum carotene levels. A majority of the tests for absorptive function returned toward normal during the convalescent period. Jejunal biopsies in 6 of 7 patients with malaria revealed edema and round cell infiltration of the lamina propria, and shortening and widening of villi. In 5 of these biopsies the presence of malarial pigment and parasitized red blood cells was noted within the mucosal vessels. In each case, the morphologic changes reverted toward normal during convalescence. The pathophysiologic mechanism responsible for the malabsorption syndrome in malaria has not been elucidated but may be due in part to ischemic changes in the mucosa of the small bowel.

Accepted for publication August 30, 1971.

^* This study was supported by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy Work Unit P2092-70. The opinions or assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or Naval Service at large.

Requests for reprints should be addressed to Publications Editor, NAMRU-2, Box 14, APO San Francisco 96263.

Present address: USPHS Hospital, 1131 Fourteenth Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98114.

Present address: Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, Box 784, 1200 North State Street, Los Angeles, California 90033.