α+-Thalassemia Protects against Anemia Associated with Asymptomatic Malaria: Evidence from Community-Based Surveys in Tanzania and Kenya
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Publication Date
2008-08-01Author
Jacobien Veenemans, Pauline EA Andang'o, Erasto V Mbugi, Rob J Kraaijenhagen, David L Mwaniki, Frank P Mockenhaupt, Susanne Roewer, Raimos M Olomi, John F Shao, Jos WM van der Meer, Huub FJ Savelkoul, Hans Verhoef
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Background. In hospital-based studies, α+-thalassemia has been found to protect against severe, life-threatening falciparum malaria. α+-Thalassemia does not seem to prevent infection or high parasite densities but rather limits progression to severe disease—in particular, severe malarial anemia. We assessed to what extent α+-thalassemia influences the association between mild, asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection and hemoglobin concentration.
Methods. The study was based on 2 community-based surveys conducted among afebrile children (0.5–8 years old; n=801) in Kenya and Tanzania.
Results. Among children without inflammation (whole-blood C-reactive protein concentration ≤10 mg/L), P. falciparum infection was associated with only small reductions in hemoglobin concentration, and effects were similar across α …