IN-VIVO REMOVAL OF MALARIA PARASITES FROM RED-BLOOD-CELLS WITHOUT THEIR DESTRUCTION IN ACUTE FALCIPARUM-MALARIA

During acute falciparum malaria infection, red blood cells (RBC) conta ining abundant ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (Pf 155 or RE SA), but no intracellular parasites, are present in the circulation, T hese RESA-positive parasite negative RBC are not seen in parasite cult ures in vitro, This indicates that in acute falciparum malaria there i s active removal of intraerythrocytic parasites by a host mechanism in vivo (probably the spleen) without destruction of the parasitized RBC , This may explain the observed disparity between the drop in hematocr it and decrease in parasite count in some hyperparasitemic patients, T he fate of these ''once-parasitized'' RBC in vivo is not known. (C) 19 97 by The American Society of Hematology.