New findings highlight the role of endothelial cell activation in children with cerebral malaria
Friday, March 20, 2009 - 15:14
in Health & Medicine
Researchers have identified a novel pathway that may contribute to the high mortality associated with severe malaria in sub-Saharan African children. The study, published March 20 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens, reports that severe Plasmodium falciparum infection results in disruption of the endothelium, causing release of ultra-large von Willebrand factor (VWF) protein. Together with reduced levels of VWF-specific cleaving enzyme ADAMTS13, this finding may contribute to our knowledge of the pathophysiology of malaria.