ABSTRACT
Malaria is a significant public health problem in the world especially in in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the key contributory factors to the development and progression of malaria and its complications is oxidative stress, a condition characterized by increased production of free radicals or impaired antioxidant defence system. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) produces NADPH which intends regenerate reduced glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant which helps in the removal of free radicals thereby preventing oxidative stress, Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the relationship between G-6-PD, oxidative stress and malaria infection in patients visiting ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu. The recruited patients following their informed consent were screened for malaria by RDT and Microscopy methods and their baseline parameters including age, gender, etc. were obtained using a questionnaire. Whole blood was collected and used for the determination of malaria infection, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, anaemia and as well as the G-6-PD status in patients. A total of 101 patients were recruited including 30 male and 71 female among which 86 had malaria positive while 15 tested malaria negative. Comparing RDT and Microscopy techniques in diagnosing Malaria, showed RDT to have a low performance in in diagnosing malaria using microscopy as standard with a sensitivity of 10.47% and of accuracy 23.76%. All the baseline characteristics of study participants was not significantly different (p = 0.946) among the malaria and non- malaria patients. Among the G6PD deficient patients, 17.9% were found to be anaemic while 13.1% were non-anaemic whereas among the non-deficient patients, 39.3% were anaemic while 29.8% were non-anaemic. As such, there was no significant relationship (p = 0.946) between G6PD deficiency and among the malaria patients. Comparison of anaemia and oxidative stress indices among malaria patients showed significantly (p<0.05) low level of haemoglobin and haematocrit concentrations, but there no significant difference (p>0.05) of MDA and protein oxidation level between anemic and non-anaemic patients with malaria. Interaction between anaemia and G6PD deficiency on study parameters, showed no significant (p<0.05) relationship on haemoglobin, haematocrit, MDA and protein oxidation level in malaria patients. In conclusion, this study showed the no association between anaemia, oxidative stress and G-6-PD deficiency among malaria patients. Further studies are needed to ascertain these findings as oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria.
