ArticlePloS one2011
Elevated plasma von Willebrand factor and propeptide levels in Malawian children with malaria.
Article in PloS one, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- Alterations in von Willebrand Factor Levels in Patients with Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Disease Severity.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Pooled it
- Affinity proteomics reveals elevated muscle proteins in plasma of children with cerebral malaria.PLoS pathogens · 2014Trial
- Inter-relationships of cardinal features and outcomes of symptomatic pediatric Plasmodium falciparum MALARIA in 1,933 children in Kampala, Uganda.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2013Trial
- Elevated Levels of PDGF-BB and VEGF Are Associated With a Decreased Risk of Readmission or Death in Children With Severe Malarial Anemia.The Journal of infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Respiratory Distress Complicating Falciparum Malaria Imported to Berlin, Germany: Incidence, Burden, and Risk Factors.Microorganisms · 2023Article
- Treatment Reducing Endothelial Activation Protects against Experimental Cerebral Malaria.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Retinopathy-Positive Cerebral Malaria Is Associated With Greater Inflammation, Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown, and Neuronal Damage Than Retinopathy-Negative Cerebral Malaria.Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society · 2020Article
- Pathophysiology and neurologic sequelae of cerebral malaria.Malaria journal · 2020Review
- Release of endothelial activation markers in lungs of patients with malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.Malaria journal · 2019Article
- Distinct Biomarker Profiles Distinguish Malawian Children with Malarial and Non-malarial Sepsis.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2019Article
- von Willebrand factor in experimental malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH · 2019Article
- Evaluating Immunopathogenic Biomarkers During Severe Malaria Illness as Modifiers of the Neuropsychologic Benefits of Computer Cognitive Games Rehabilitation in Ugandan Children.The Pediatric infectious disease journal · 2019Article
- Levels of human proteins in plasma associated with acute paediatric malaria.Malaria journal · 2018Article
- Cerebral malaria--clinical manifestations and pathogenesis.Metabolic brain disease · 2016Review
- Marked elevation in plasma osteoprotegerin constitutes an early and consistent feature of cerebral malaria.Thrombosis and haemostasis · 2016Article
- A novel role for von Willebrand factor in the pathogenesis of experimental cerebral malaria.Blood · 2016Article
- Endothelial activation, haemostasis and thrombosis biomarkers in Ugandan children with severe malaria participating in a clinical trial.Malaria journal · 2016Article
- Article
- VWF excess and ADAMTS13 deficiency: a unifying pathomechanism linking inflammation to thrombosis in DIC, malaria, and TTP.Thrombosis and haemostasis · 2015Review
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 8 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn spite of the significant mortality associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection, the mechanisms underlying severe disease remain poorly understood. We have previously shown evidence of endothelial activation in Ghanaian children with malaria, indicated by elevated plasma levels of both von Willebrand factor (VWF) and its propeptide. In the current prospective study of children in Malawi with retinopathy confirmed cerebral malaria, we compared these markers with uncomplicated malaria, non malarial febrile illness and controls. METHODS AND
findingsChildren with cerebral malaria, mild malaria and controls without malaria were recruited into the study. All comatose patients were examined by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Plasma VWF and propeptide levels were measured by ELISA. Median VWF and propeptide levels were significantly higher in patients with uncomplicated malaria than in children with non-malarial febrile illness of comparable severity, in whom levels were higher than in non-febrile controls. Median concentrations of both markers were higher in cerebral malaria than in uncomplicated malaria, and were similar in patients with and without retinopathy. Levels of both VWF and propeptide fell significantly 48 hours after commencing therapy and were normal one month later.
conclusionsIn children with malaria plasma VWF and propeptide levels are markedly elevated in both cerebral and mild paediatric malaria, with levels matching disease severity, and these normalize upon recovery. High levels of both markers also occur in retinopathy-negative 'cerebral malaria' cases, many of whom are thought to be suffering from diseases other than malaria, indicating that further studies of these markers will be required to determine their sensitivity and specificity.
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