Plasma lipid changes in human malaria.

Lipid concentrations in human subjects during and after infection by Plasmodium falciparum were determined. The increase in the concentration of phospholipids and triglycerides during infection was statistically significant (p less than 0.01 for moderate infection and p less than 0.001 for severe infection) when compared with concentration after infection. The increases in these lipid levels were almost two-fold in moderate infection and three fold in severe infection. There was no significant change in the plasma cholesterol during and after infection.