Bernardo L Rapoport1, Almarie Uys. 1. The Medical Oncology Centre of Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa. brapoport@icon.co.za
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Very little is documented in the medical literature on the association between malaria parasitemia and febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. METHODS: This report will concentrate on the clinical presentation and outcome of 3 patients with haematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy who developed febrile neutropenia and malaria parasitemia concurrently. RESULTS: Three patients infected with documented malaria during a febrile neutropenic episode are presented. Two patients (1 with Hodgkin's disease and the other with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) were successfully treated and are alive after a follow-up period of 120 and 90 months, respectively. A third patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia developed renal failure as a complicating factor of malaria and died. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that malaria should be considered as a possible cause or a complicating factor of febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy in endemic malaria areas.
BACKGROUND: Very little is documented in the medical literature on the association between malaria parasitemia and febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. METHODS: This report will concentrate on the clinical presentation and outcome of 3 patients with haematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy who developed febrile neutropenia and malaria parasitemia concurrently. RESULTS: Three patients infected with documented malaria during a febrile neutropenic episode are presented. Two patients (1 with Hodgkin's disease and the other with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) were successfully treated and are alive after a follow-up period of 120 and 90 months, respectively. A third patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia developed renal failure as a complicating factor of malaria and died. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that malaria should be considered as a possible cause or a complicating factor of febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy in endemic malaria areas.
Authors: María Linares; Enriqueta Albizua; Darío Méndez; José M Rubio; Alejandra Martínez-Serna; Miguel A Martínez; Efren Salto; Antonio Puyet; Amalia Diez; Joaquin Martinez-López; José M Bautista Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2011-10-05 Impact factor: 5.948