INCREASED PLATELET FACTOR 3 ACTIVITY IN PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA

Platelet count and platelet factor 3 (pf 3) availability were determin ed in twenty five febrile subjects with no parasitologic Plasmodium fa lciparum malaria and in thirty eight febrile subjects with parasitolog ic malaria, Eighteen age and sex matched afebrile subjects without par asitologic malaria served as controls, Platelet counts were significan tly lower in the malaria patients (p < 0.01) and in the non-parasitolo gic but febrile subjects (p < 0.01) than the control group. Platelet f actor 3 activity was significantly higher in the febrile group (p < 0. 01) than in the control subjects. Parasite density did not correlate e ither with platelet count or with platelet factor 3 clotting time.