Haematological parameters and clinical course of patients with severe malaria: Is there a role for Exchange Blood Transfusion in low middle income setting?

Severe malaria can manifest as a life-threating constellation of symptoms including acutely dysregulated haematologic and circulatory parameters. A strong association has been identified between high levels of parasitaemia and increased morbidity in patients suffering from severe malaria ¹ . Exchange blood transfusion (EBT) is an adjunct therapy that involves replacing patient blood to clear infected cells and toxic metabolites ^2,3 . Its biologically plausible effects are thought to include reduced parasite load, optimized hemodynamics, and improved oxygen-carrying capacity ² . However, the evidence basis for its use remains mixed ⁴ . This short report describes the impact of EBTs in malaria with high parasitemia on patients’ haematological status in an LMIC setting.