Effect of antimalarial drugs and malaria infection on oxidative stress in pregnant women.

This work studied the effect of malaria infection and antimalarial drugs on oxidative stress in 259 pregnant and nonpregnant women at Ade-Oyo hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring serum lipid peroxidation, ascorbic acid, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels using spectrophotometer. The results showed that mean lipid peroxidation was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in malaria positive than malaria negative women, while GSH and ascorbic acid levels were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. The parasite density was significantly reduced in patients who had taken antimalarial drugs relative to those without. While mean ascorbic acid and GSH levels were significantly reduced in those who had taken drugs as compared with those without drugs, the lipid peroxidation level was significantly higher in them. The increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in GSH and ascorbic acid levels in women who were malaria positive and in those who had taken drugs is indicative of oxidative stress.

Effect of antimalarial drugs and malaria infection on oxidative stress in pregnant women

This work studied the effect of malaria infection and antimalarial drugs on oxidative stress in 259 pregnant and non-pregnant women at Ade-Oyo hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring serum lipid peroxidation, ascorbic acid, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels using spectrophotometer. The results showed that mean lipid peroxidation was significantly higher (p<0.05) in malaria positive than malaria negative women, while GSH and ascorbic acid levels were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. The parasite density was significantly reduced in patients who had taken antimalarial drugs relative to those without. While mean ascorbic acid and GSH levels were significantly reduced in those who had taken drugs as compared with those without drugs, the lipid peroxidation level was significantly higher in them. The increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in GSH and ascorbic acid levels in women who were malaria positive and in those who had taken drugs is indicative of oxidative stress. (Afr. J. Reprod. Health 2010; 14[3]: 209-212)

The burden of malaria infection on pregnant women and birth weight of infants in south western Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of malaria infection on pregnant women and the birth weight of the infants in the south western Nigeria. SUBJECT: 262 pregnant women who came for antenatal clinic at Ade-Oyo maternity hospital. 128 were primigravidae while 134 were multigravidae. METHODOLOGY: 2ml of blood was withdrawn from 262 pregnant women who came for antenatal clinic at Ade Oyo maternity hospital. Thick blood smears were prepared for parasite identification and quantification. Anaemia was detected by measuring Hb levels using Drabkin's solution. Age, gravidity and history of treatment with antimalaria drugs were obtained from the subjects using questionnaire. RESULT: The overall prevalence of infection was 41.8%. Primigravidae were more infected (35%) than multigravidae (22%). The prevalence was significantly higher (p<0.05) in wet season than dry season. Teenagers and primigravidae were more infected than the adults and multigravidae. The severity of the anaemia was significantly higher (p<0.05) among malaria positive teenagers and primigravidae than adults and multigravidae. The mean birth weight of infants born to malaria positive was significantly lower (p<0.05) than those born to malaria negative mothers. Malaria positive teenagers and primigravidae had infants with lowest birth weight as compared with adult and multigravidae. The birth weights of the infants were positively correlated with the Hb levels. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that malaria infection, anaemia, and gravidity affect the birth weight of infants born in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria.

Effect of self-medication with antimalarial drugs on malaria infection in pregnant women in South-Western Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of self-medication with chloroquine and pyrimethamine on malaria infection and anaemia during pregnancy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study involved 210 women who attended Ade Oyo Maternity State Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Of these, 156 were pregnant women while 54 were not pregnant (controls). Of the pregnant women, 66 were primigravidae, while 90 were multigravidae. History of treatment of malaria with antimalarial drugs was obtained from the subjects. Gravidity and gestation period were also documented. Two millilitres of blood was withdrawn from each subject, for haematological parameters. Thin and thick films were prepared for malaria parasite identification and quantification. RESULTS: Of the primigravidae and multigravidae 68 and 16.4%, respectively, had taken antimalarial drugs prior to booking. Among primigravidae, only 18% of those with drugs compared with 32% without drugs were malaria-positive. The parasite density was significantly lower among those who took antimalarial drugs than among those who did not (976 +/- 60 versus 2,421 +/- 78, p < 0.05). Similarly, among multigravidae, only 16.4% of those who took antimalarial drugs compared with 34% of those who were not malaria-positive. The parasite density was also significantly lower in multigravidae with drugs than among those without drugs (350 +/- 45 versus 1,000 +/- 65, p < 0.05). The prevalence of anaemia (packed cell volume, PCV < 33) was high, 89% in primigravidae and 70% in multigravidae. Severe anaemia (PCV < 21) was more common in malaria-positive primigravidae and multigravidae than in malaria-negative women. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that self-medication with chloroquine and pyrimethamine at booking was able to reduce the prevalence of malaria and anaemia in pregnancy.