Browsing by Author "Boadi, Enoch"

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    Serum angiopoietins (ANG -1) and (ANG-2) levels as prognostic biomarkers for differentiating severe malaria from uncomplicated malaria in a Ghanaian population.
    (KNUST, 2023-06) Boadi, Enoch
    Malaria is classified as either uncomplicated malaria or severe malaria. The principle that underly the progression of uncomplicated malaria to severe malaria is still unclear. This study aimed at assessing serum angiopoietins (ANG -1) and (ANG-2) levels as prognostic biomarkers for differentiating severe malaria from uncomplicated malaria in a Ghanaian population. A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed to sample 166 study participants of which forty-two (42) were apparently healthy controls, seventy-eight (78) were uncomplicated malaria cases, and forty-six (46) were severe malaria cases. Blood samples were taken and analysed for full blood count, liver function test, renal function test, and serum angiopoietins. Statistical analyses were carried out using Graph Pad Prism 9 software. The median and interquartile ranges, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis’s analysis were done to compare groups. The Ang-1 levels in the severe malaria group were lower (3.8 ng/L, IQR: 2.2 – 12.7) in comparison to the uncomplicated malaria group (6.3 ng/L, IQR: 3.3 – 8.0) and healthy controls (9.6 ng/L, IQR: 3.5 – 15.3). Ang-2 levels were higher in the severe malaria group (19.1ng/L, IQR: 9.0 – 25.8) compared to the uncomplicated malaria group (15.7ng/L, IQR: 2.6 – 27.4). The Ang-1 levels showed a high predictive ability of 94.9% to predict severe malaria from uncomplicated malaria whiles Ang-2, and Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio levels showed no predictive ability in discriminating malaria severity. Some hematological parameters, biochemical parameters, and parasite density were also associated significantly with malaria severity. In conclusion, the results suggest that Ang-1 and Ang-2 do not have the potential to serve as biomarkers of both severe and uncomplicated forms of malaria in a Ghanaian population.