ABSTRACT
Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most important complication of falciparum malaria. However, its pathophysiology is not understood. Malaria infection is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the malaria parasites are sensitive to oxidative damage. So, we conducted a case-control study to estimate antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation in 36 patients with CM. In present study, catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased significantly and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was decreased significantly in CM patients at the time of admission with respect to control group. After treatment, SOD activity was increased and MDA level was decreased; rest of the parameters did not show any significant change. So, the antioxidant enzyme has a prognostic role in CM.