What is it about?

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is suggested as a factor involved in the pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy.

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Why is it important?

The pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy is not fully understood. A proinflammatory cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is suggested as a factor involved in the pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Medani Hospital, Sudan to investigate MIF levels in placental malaria. Obstetrical and medical characteristics were gathered from each parturient woman using questionnaires. All women (151) were investigated for malaria using blood film and placental histology. MIF levels were measured using ELISA in paired maternal and cord blood samples.

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There were no P. falciparum-positive blood films obtained from maternal peripheral blood, placenta or cord samples. Out of 151 placentae, four (2.6%), one (0.7%), 32 (21.2%) showed acute, chronic and past infection on histopathology examinations respectively, while the rest (114; 75.5%) of them showed no signs of infection. There was no association between maternal and cord MIF levels, placental malaria, maternal hemoglobin and birth weight.

Distinguished Professor Elhassan Mohamed Elhassan
University of Gezira

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This page is a summary of: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor and placental malaria infection in an area characterized by unstable malaria transmission in central Sudan, F1000Research, September 2015, Faculty of 1000, Ltd.,
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.7061.1.
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