Abstract
Transfusion of 10 mg/kg of whole blood via intraperitoneal route to mice with late-stage experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) along with artemether has been shown to result in markedly increased survival (75%) compared to artemether alone (51%). Intraperitoneal route was used to overcome the restrictions imposed by injection of large volumes of viscous fluid in small and deranged blood vessels of mice with ECM. In the present study, a method of intravenous transfusion was implemented by injecting 200μL of whole blood through the right jugular vein in mice with late-stage ECM, together with artemether given intraperitoneally, leading to a remarkable increase in survival, from 54% to 90%. On the contrary, mice receiving artemether plus plasma transfusion showed a worse outcome, with only 18% survival. Compared to the intraperitoneal route, intravascular transfusion led to faster and more pronounced recoveries of hematocrit, platelet counts, angiopoietins levels (ANG-1, ANG-2 and ANG-2/ANG-1) and blood brain barrier integrity. These findings indicate that whole blood transfusion when given intravenously show more efficacy over intraperitoneal transfusion, reinforcing evidence for benefit as an adjuvant therapy for cerebral malaria.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
