Table 2 Characteristics of 16 patients with severe malaria treated with artesunate with or without RBC exchange
Overall (n = 16) | Artesunate only (n = 12) | Artesunate and RBC exchange (n = 4) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Demographics | ||||
Age | 40 (33–50) | 36 (32–48) | 47 (39–55) | 0.332 |
Male | 11 (68.75) | 8 (66.67) | 3 (75) | 0.755 |
Clinical data | ||||
Number of severity criteria | 3 (1–6) | 1 (1–5) | 7 (6–10) | 0.016 |
Clinical criteria | ||||
>2 criteria | 6 (37.5) | 3 (25) | 3 (75) | 0.074 |
Impaired consciousness | 3 (18.75) | 2 (16.67) | 1 (25) | 0.712 |
Postration | 8 (50) | 5 (41.67) | 3 (75) | 0.248 |
Multiples convulsions | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | – |
Respiratory failure | 3 (18.75) | 1 (8.33) | 2 (50) | 0.064 |
Shock | 4 (25) | 3 (25) | 1 (25) | 1 |
Jaundice | 6 (37.50) | 2 (16.67) | 4 (100) | 0.003 |
Bleeding | 3 (18.75) | 2 (16.67) | 1 (25) | 0.712 |
Analytical and radiological criteria | ||||
≥2 criteria | 7 (43.75) | 3 (25) | 4 (100) | 0.009 |
Hypoglycaemia | 2 (12.50) | 1 (8.33) | 1 (25) | 0.383 |
Metabolic acidosis | 4 (25) | 1 (8.33) | 3 (75) | 0.008 |
Severe normocytic anaemia | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | – |
Haemoglobinuriaa | 4 (26.67) | 2 (16.67) | 2 (66.67) | 0.080 |
Hyperlactataemiaa | 2 (13.33) | 0 (0) | 2 (66.67) | 0.002 |
Renal impairment | 6 (37.50) | 2 (16.67) | 4 (100) | 0.003 |
Pulmonary oedema | 3 (18.75) | 1 (8.33) | 2 (50) | 0.064 |
Parasitological data | ||||
Parasitaemia (%) | 12.5 (3.95–32.5) | 7.3 (3.85–19.50) | 46.5 (34–57) | 0.008 |
Parasitaemia >30 % | 4 (25) | 1 (8.33) | 3 (75) | 0.008 |
Hyperparasitaemia | 15 (93.75) | 11 (91.67) | 4 (100) | 0.551 |