Cortisol and Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnant women in Kenya.

Women living under holoendemic conditions of malaria in Kenya exhibited an increased prevalence of clinical malaria during pregnancy. In addition parasite rate and density were higher in primigravidae compared to multigravidae. Higher serum cortisol concentrations were found in women with patent malaria during pregnancy and the levels were higher before, during and after the malaria episode. A causal relation between serum cortisol levels and suppression of malaria immunity during pregnancy is discussed.