Table 2.
Clinical and prognostic features of microscopy negative (N = 10) and microscopy positive (N = 169) patients enrolled in clinical trial with all three bands positive on RDT 1
| Microscopy negative (N = 10) | Microscopy positive (N = 169) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parasite density (geometric mean, range) |
0 |
17,700 (80–696,000) |
- |
| Duration of fever prior to presentation (days), median (IQR) |
3.5 (2.0-6.0) |
3.0 (2.0-4.0) |
0.78 |
| Prostration, n/N (%) |
8/10 (80) |
155/169 (92) |
0.22 |
| Coma, n/N (%) |
5/10 (50) |
101/169 (60) |
0.74 |
| Convulsions, n/N (%) |
8/10 (80) |
135/169 (80) |
1.0 |
| BCS, median (IQR) |
3 (2–4) |
2 (2–3) |
0.33 |
| Deep breathing, n/N (%) |
2/10 (20) |
84/169 (50) |
0.10 |
| LODS2, median (IQR) |
2 (1–2) |
2 (1.5-3) |
0.067 |
| pH <7.353, n/N (%) |
2/9 (22) |
40/137 (29) |
1.0 |
| Lactate > 5 mmol/L3, n/N (%) |
2/10 (20) |
57/161 (35) |
0.50 |
| Base deficit > 8 mmol/L3, n/N (%) | 4/9 (44) | 65/137 (47) | 1.0 |
1One additional patient was diagnosed with P. ovale based on microscopy, but PCR identified P. falciparum mono-infection.
2Lambaréné Organ Dysfunction Score.
3pH < 7.35 [20], lactate > 5 mmol/L and base deficit > 8 mmol/L [21] (lactic acidosis) have been identified as markers of poor prognosis in severe malaria.