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Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2008 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 12 | Page No.: 1646-1649
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2008.1646.1649
Antioxidant Status of Bilirubin and Uric Acid in Patients Diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Douala
Kouam Eric Bertrand, Ndomou Mathieu, Gouado Inocent and Fotso Kuate Honore

Abstract: Oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant status have been implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria. To assess the antioxidant level of bilirubin and uric acid associated with falciparum malaria infection, 60 untreated patients (30 men and 30 women) in Douala, Cameroon were screened for the study. Sixty five healthy individuals (29 men and 36 women) were used as controls. Total and conjugated bilirubin were calculated using Jendrassik-Grof method while uric acid was determined using Barham-Trinder method. It was observed that total and conjugated bilirubins were significantly (p<0.001) higher in malaria patients (10.722 ± 4.043 and 3.627 ± 1.571 mg L-1, respectively) when compared to control (6.830 ± 2.436 and 1.777 ± 0.729 mg L-1) and these bilirubin levels increased significantly with parasite count (p<0.050). There was also significant increased (p = 0.021) of uric acid in malaria patients (56.262 ± 13.963 mg L-1) compared to controls (49.838 ±15.419 mg L-1). No significant differences based on sex were observed on uric acid, parasite count, total and conjugated bilirubins in malaria patients. Positive correlations were obtained between parasite count and total bilirubin (r = 0.320, p<0.050), conjugated bilirubin (r = 0.477, p<0.001), uric acid (r = 0.060, p>0.050) and between total and conjugated bilirubin (r = 0.729, p<0.001). From this study, it has been hypothesized that the augmentation of plasma level of bilirubin and uric acid could provide more protection against oxidative stress induced by malaria.

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How to cite this article
Kouam Eric Bertrand, Ndomou Mathieu, Gouado Inocent and Fotso Kuate Honore, 2008. Antioxidant Status of Bilirubin and Uric Acid in Patients Diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Douala. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11: 1646-1649.

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