Table 2.
CRP Values in Different Patient Groups in a Selection of Studies in Malaria-Endemic Settings in Sub-Saharan Africa
| Study Group | Study | Country | Study Period | Study Population | No. | Representation | CRP Levelb | CRP Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy (malaria negative) | [44]a | Burkina Faso | 9–12/2009 | Healthy children, 6–23 mo, with Hb >6 g/dL | 212 | Mean ± SD | 1.2 ± 0.1 | / |
| [45] | The Gambia | 10/1993–10/1994 | Healthy children with T <37.5°C (mean age, 2.5 y) | 40 | Median (25th–75th percentiles) | 1 (0–2) | ELISA | |
| [46] | Nigeria | / | Adults, 30–65 y | 40 | Mean ± SD | 3.2 ± 1.2 | Agglutination assay | |
| Asymptomatic parasitemia | [44]a | Burkina Faso | 9–12/2009 | Healthy children, 6–23 mo, with Hb >6 g/dL | 225 | Mean ± SD | 4.6 ± 0.3 | / |
| [45] | The Gambia | 10/1993–10/1994 | Healthy children with T <37.5°C (mean age, 2.7 y) | 32 | Median (25th–75th percentiles) | 11 (3–48) | ELISA | |
| Uncomplicated malaria | [47] | Angola | 10/2013–7/2014 | Children, ≤16 y | 127 | Median (IQR) | 140 (93) | POC No. 37 |
| [48] | Sudan | 8–12/2010 | Pregnant women | 32 | Median (25th–75th percentiles) | 63.0 (22.5–81.7) | POC No. 32 | |
| [49] | Cameroun | 7–10/2009 | Children, <15 y | 31 | 25th–75th percentiles | 0–24 | Agglutination assay | |
| [50] | Gabon | / | Children, 4–15 y | 41 | Mean ± SD | 46 ± 43 | Immuno-diffusion assay | |
| [50] | Gabon | / | Adults, 16–64 y | 23 | Mean ± SD | 49 ± 40 | Immuno-diffusion assay | |
| Severe malaria | [48] | Sudan | 8–12/2010 | Pregnant women | 32 | Median (25th–75th percentiles) | 79.0 (36.2–110.5) | POC No. 32 |
| [50] | Gabon | / | Children, 0.5–10 y | 29 | Mean ± SD | 137 ± 71 | Immuno-diffusion assay | |
| Cerebral malaria | [47] | Angola | 10/2013–7/2014 | Children, ≤16 y | 28 | Median (IQR) | 116 (101) | POC No. 37 |
| [6] | Cameroun | 7–10/2009 | Patients, <15 y | 23 | 25th–75th percentiles | 15.0–70 | Agglutination assay | |
| [51] | Uganda | 6/2010–12/2013 | Children, 18 mo–5 y | 79 | Median (25th–75th percentiles) | 581.3 (334.6–842.7) | Line immune-assay | |
| Malaria with severe anemia | [47] | Angola | 10/2013–7/2014 | Children, ≤16 y | 29 | Median (IQR) | 153 (56) | POC No. 37 |
| [51] | Uganda | 6/2010–12/2013 | Children, 18 mo–5 y | 77 | Median (25th–75th percentiles) | 822.5 (555.4–1103.9) | Line immune-assay |
We found 19 studies reporting CRP levels in different types of malaria patients (clinic- or laboratory-based) that either (1) had as main purpose to assess the affect of malaria on CRP levels or (2) reported on such associations for another study purpose but with at least 100 malaria patients included. The table contains the 8 studies that (1) had a clearly defined study population; (2) reported medians, means, or another measure of spread of the CRP values; (3) reported clearly defined CRP units.
Abbreviations: /, not mentioned; CRP, C-reactive protein; ELISA, enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay; Hb, hemoglobin; IQR, interquartile range; POC, point of care.
aAll malaria diagnoses through microscopy, except malaria diagnosis through HRP2 concentrations.
bUnits CRP: mg/L.