What does "culture of life" mean for an undocumented immigrant?

nia. Preliminary research from Venezuela [6] has demonstrated that P. vivax–related thrombocytopenia may be an immunemediated phenomenon caused by antiplatelet antibodies in immunologically primed individuals. The purpose of our report [2] is to bring closer attention to the possibility of P. vivax infection presenting with severe malaria manifestations, such as severe thrombocytopenia. Much has been described about severe malaria due to P. falciparum infection [7]. Only a few reports, such as one recently published by Kochar et al. [8], have described severe malaria in P. vivax infection. We consider our report to be relevant in demonstrating that P. vivax infection ultimately may present, albeit less frequently, with severe malaria manifestations, such as severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic episodes (both of which occurred among a group of our patients). In support of our conclusions [2], the report by Kochar et al. [8] demonstrated the occurrence of severe anemia and severe thrombocytopenia associated with bleeding diathesis that required intensive care support. Coinciding with our observation of a distinction between immune and nonimmune populations, Kochar et al. [8] also included only cases from an area in India where malaria is endemic [8]. We are in the process of preparing a report to further describe the frequency and severity of anemia in Northeastern Venezuela, where P. vivax infection is endemic. We believe that our report [2], along those of with Kochar et al. [8], and Antinori et al. [1], demonstrates that hematological abnormalities associated with P. vivax infection are clinically relevant and could be associated with severe malaria, and their pathogenesis deserves further research.