PROLONGED HEMOLYTIC-ANEMIA IN MALARIA AND AUTOANTIBODIES AGAINST TRIOSEPHOSPHATE ISOMERASE

Prolonged haemolysis may accompany infection with Plasmodium falciparu m. We observed prolonged haemolysis in 4 of 10 patients with this type of malaria after parasitological cure. IgM antibodies specific for th e glycolytic enzyme triosephosphate isomerase were detected in these p atients' sera. Clinical recovery and a decrease in haemolysis coincide d with a fall in these autoantibodies. In vitro, affinity purified aut oantibodies isolated from the sera directed against triosephosphate is omerase induced lysis of erythrocytes and activation of complement as shown by the Cr-51 release assay. We assume that autoantibodies agains t triosephosphate isomerase contribute to the development of prolonged haemolysis and anaemia in P. falciparum malaria.