Evaluation of hematological changes in Plasmodium falciparum–infected patients before and after artesunate-mefloquine treatment in Dak Lak province, Vietnam

The hematological changes following treatment have been poorly understood. This study was designed to determine the hematological alterations and recovery in plasmodium falciparum – infected patients, treated with Artesunate/Mefloquin. A retrospective study was conducted in Dak Lak province, located in Central highlands Vietnam, between August 2019 and April 2020. All data from 80 patients who were diagnosed with P. falciparum infection – including clinical characteristics, and hematological parameters in 42 days follow up – were reviewed and analyzed. The results showed that there were no anemia (p<0.001), no leukopenia (p<0.001), no leukocytosis (p<0.001), but thrombocytopenia (p=0.018) in 80 patients before treatment. There was a slightly decrease in hemoglobin (HGB) at day 7 (p=0.05), then HGB significantly increased at day 42 after treatment (p<0.001). White blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts rapidly recovered at day 7 after treatment (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). This study indicated that malaria patients treated with Artesunate/Mefloquin exhibit important changes in hematological parameters with HGB and PLT counts being the two most important changes before and after treatment. This data could be useful for detection, treatment and prevention of malaria in Vietnam.