Transfusion-associated falciparum malaria successfully treated with red blood cell exchange transfusion

Falciparum malaria is frequently associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The use of exchange transfusion as a therapeutic modality for se vere cases of malaria has been described previously. We describe a case of a 49 year-old African American gentleman with a history of hemoglobin-SC di sease who presented with a severe case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria 3 w eeks after having received an infected blood transfusion. His peripheral sm ear showed the presence of numerous intraerythrocytic ring forms and "banan a-shaped" gametocytes with a high-grade parasitemia, estimated at 18%. He w as treated with antimalarial chemotherapy and also underwent a 12-unit red blood cell exchange transfusion, decreasing his parasite load to < 1%, as d etermined on repeat smear. It is prudent to be aware of the efficacy of thi s adjunctive treatment, especially with ever-increasing travel and a result ant increase in the prevalence of tropical diseases in the United States.