Oxidative stress of platelets and thrombocytopenia in patients with vivax malaria

Oxidative stress and antioxidative capacity of platelets and the relationsh ip with thrombocytopenia were determined in patients with vivax malaria and compared with those of healthy subjects. Whole blood thrombocyte count, pl atelet superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities of patien ts with vivax malaria were lower and platelet lipid peroxidation levels wer e higher in patients than those of healthy subjects. There was an important negative correlation between whole blood thrombocyte count and platelet li pid peroxidation level. The antioxidative mechanisms of thrombocytes were i nsufficient in malaria patients and caused oxidative stress. The oxidative damage of thrombocytes might be important in the ethiopathogenesis of throm bocytopenia occurring in malaria. (C) 2001 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.