ArticlePloS one2023
Serum anti-erythropoietin antibodies among pregnant women with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and anaemia: A case-control study in northern Ghana.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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5 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Plasma Soluble Progenitor Cell Receptors as Biomarkers for Severe Anemia Among Malaria-Infected Pediatrics: A Prospective Study in Ghana.Health science reports · 2025Article
- Serum Anti-Erythropoietin Autoantibodies and Their Association With Younger Age in Paediatric Malaria Cases.BioMed research international · 2025Article
- Hormones in malaria infection: influence on disease severity, host physiology, and therapeutic opportunities.Bioscience reports · 2024Review
- Antibodies to specific domains ofHealth science reports · 2024Article
- Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines mediate the progression of severe anemia in malaria-infected children: A prospective study.Immunity, inflammation and disease · 2024Article
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16 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
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Abstract
backgroundAnaemia in pregnancy is common in underdeveloped countries, and malaria remains the predominant cause of the condition in Ghana. Anti-erythropoietin (anti-EPO) antibody production may be implicated in the pathogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria-related anaemia in pregnancy. This study ascertained the prevalence of anti-EPO antibody production and evaluated the antibodies' relationship with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and malaria-related anaemia in pregnancy.
methodsThis hospital-based case-control study recruited a total of 85 pregnant women (55 with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and 30 controls without malaria). Venous blood was taken from participants for thick and thin blood films for malaria parasite microscopy. Complete blood count (CBC) analyses were done using an automated haematology analyzer. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels and anti-EPO antibodies. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22.0.
resultsHaemoglobin (p<0.001), RBC (p<0.001), HCT (p = 0.006) and platelet (p<0.001) were significantly lower among pregnant women infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Of the 85 participants, five (5.9%) had anti-EPO antibodies in their sera, and the prevalence of anti-EPO antibody production among the Plasmodium falciparum-infected pregnant women was 9.1%. Plasmodium falciparum-infected pregnant women with anti-EPO antibodies had lower Hb (p<0.001), RBC (p<0.001), and HCT (p<0.001), but higher EPO levels (p<0.001). Younger age (p = 0.013) and high parasite density (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with Plasmodium falciparum-related anti-EPO antibodies production in pregnancy. Also, younger age (p = 0.039) and anti-EPO antibody production (p = 0.012) related to the development of Plasmodium falciparum malaria anaemia in pregnancy.
conclusionThe prevalence of anti-EPO antibodies among pregnant women with Plasmodium falciparum malaria was high. Plasmodium falciparum parasite density and younger age could stimulate the production of anti-EPO antibodies, and the antibodies may contribute to the development of malarial anaemia in pregnancy. Screening for anti-EPO antibodies should be considered in pregnant women with P. falciparum malaria.
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