Cytokine profiles in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in central Sudan.

BACKGROUND Few data exist concerning pathogenesis of severe malaria in areas of unstable malaria transmission. OBJECTIVES The study was conducted in Senga hospital, central Sudan, which is characterized by unstable malaria transmission to investigate the cytokine profiles in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. METHODS Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the concentrations of three cytokines, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10, in sera of three groups of children (31 in each arm): those with one or more manifestations of severe malaria, those children with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria and healthy controls. RESULTS The levels of both IFN-γ and IL-10 were significantly higher in patients with severe P. falciparum malaria. Medium positive correlations were observed between IFN-γ and IL-10. CONCLUSION Thus, the high levels of both IFN-γ and IL-10 indicated their role in the pathogenesis of severe P. falciparum malaria.