Renal cortical necrosis and acute kidney injury associated with Plasmodium vivax: a neglected human malaria parasite

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax is causing increasingly more cases of severe malaria worldwide. There is an urgent need to reexamine the clinical spectrum and burden of P. vivax so that adequate control measures can be implemented against this emerging but neglected disease. Herein, we report a case of renal acute cortical necrosis and acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with P. vivax monoinfection. Her initial serum creatinine was 7.3 mg/dL on admission. Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study glomerular filtration rate (GFR) value was 7 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (normal kidney function-GFR above 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and no proteinuria). On follow-up, 5 months later, her SCr. was 2.43 mg/dl with no proteinuria. MDRD GFR value was 24 mL/min/1.73 m(2) suggesting severe chronic kidney disease (CKD; GFR less than 60 or kidney damage for at least 3 months), stage 4. Our case report highlights the fact that P. vivax malaria is benign by name but not always by nature. AKI associated with P. vivax malaria can lead to CKD. Further studies are needed to determine why P. vivax infections are becoming more severe.

Renal cortical necrosis: A rare complication of Plasmodium vivax malaria

“…This case illustrates that this parasite, which was supposed to be benign, can lead to serious complication like CKD. One previous report from Rajasthan[ 12 ] may explain the possible geological contribution of this region. This region is the part of Thar Desert with hot and dry climate, which may exaggerate the clinical spectrum of the infectious diseases.…”

Plasmodium vivax induced hemolytic uremic syndrome: An uncommon manifestation that leads to a grave complication and treated successfully with renal transplantation

“…Asymptomatic renal dysfunction to a morbid complication like TMA-HUS or renal cortical necrosis has been reported in P. vivax malaria. [ 4 ] TMA is caused by both P. falciparum and P. vivax . However, the pathogenic mechanism is better described and understood in P. falciparum compared to P. vivax malaria.…”

Renal Cortical Necrosis: An Unusual Complication of <i>Plasmodium malariae</i> Malaria

“…The first two cases involved the RCN post Plasmodium falciparum [3] [7]. The third and fourth cases, published in 2012 and 2014, dealt with Plasmodium vivax RCN [6] [9].…”