Abstract

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase protein and also an immune parameter produced by the liver which binds free haemoglobin in the blood. Complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4) are innate immune materials but could be involved in adaptive immunity. They protect the body from the invasion of pathogens by being a trigger of phagocytosis and opsonization. Low blood glucose indicates hypoglycaemia which has been associated with Plasmodium infection in children. Liver cells producing Hp, C3 and C4 are involved in the pathophysiology of Plasmodium infection and glucose metabolism. Aim and Objective: This work was therefore designed to determine plasma levels of Haptoglobin, Complement C3 and C4 in Plasmodium infected children presenting with hypoglycemia. Materials and Methods: Twenty six (26) Plasmodium Infected children with hypoglycaemia, Thirty (30) Plasmodium Infected children with normal blood glucose level and Fifty (50) Plasmodium NON- Infected children with normal blood glucose aged 5- 9 years were recruited as test and control subjects respectively. Anti-HIV, anti-HCV and HBsAg, plasma Hp, C3 and C4 were determined in all the subjects by ELISA technique while plasma glucose was determined spectrophotometrically. Children who were seronegative to HIV, HCV and HBV were studied. Results: Results obtained showed a significantly lower plasma value of C3 in Plasmodium infected children with hypoglycaemia than the control children free of Plasmodium infection and had normal glucose level with p<0.05. There was a significantly lower plasma value of Hp, C3 and C4 in plasmodium infected children with hypoglycaemia than plasmodium infected children with normal blood glucose and plasmodium non-infected children with normal plasma glucose level with p<0.05. There was also a significant decrease in the plasma value of Hp, C3 and C4 in plasmodium infected children with normal blood glucose compared with the children not infected with plasmodium having normal plasma glucose level with p<0.05. There was a significantly lower plasma value of glucose in plasmodium infected children with hypoglycaemia than plasmodium infected children with normal blood glucose and children not infected with plasmodium having normal plasma glucose level with p<0.05.Conclusion: Decrease in Hp, C3 and C4 was obtained in Plasmodium infected children and was more intense in hypoglycemic plasmodium infected children.

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