Evaluation of A1 and B100 Apoproteins in Infections Caused by Plasmodium Vivax in an Amazon Area with Endemic Malaria

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the relationship between the serum levels of the apoproteins and the lipid alterations in malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax. Method: Controlled longitudinal study of 30 patients diagnosed with malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax and 30 control individuals. Two venous blood samples were collected for analysis before treatment (D0) and on the seventh day (D7), in order to analyze the levels of A1 and B100 apoproteins, total cholesterol and fractions. Results: The serum levels of A1 and B100 apoproteins were significantly lower at D0 compared to D7 and the control group. The mean levels of total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterols in patients with malaria were significantly lower in the acute phase when compared to those who had recovered and the control group, unlike for very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, which had significantly higher values ​​among the D0 and D7 samples and among the D7 and the control group samples. At D7, there was a significant positive correlation between the serum levels of the A1 apoprotein and HDL. Parasitemia ranged from 700 to 6000 asexual parasites/mm³, and showed a significant negative correlation with HDL. Conclusion: The low HDL serum levels before treatment reflected the A1 apoprotein levels, while LDL correlated with B100 apoproteins. These findings suggest that the hypocholesterolemia observed in individuals with vivax malaria does not occur solely via cholesterol consumption during the parasite's growth phase.

Note:
Funding Information: The authors did not receive external funding of any nature for the research.

Conflict of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests related to this manuscript.

Ethical Approval: This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Amapá Federal University (protocol CEP/UNIFAP: 47850121.2.0000.0003, 23 August, 2021).

Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium vivax, A1 apoproteins, B100 apoproteins, lipids.