Antimalarial Antibodies Research Articles

Burkitt's lymphoma and malaria

An analysis of malarial parasitaemia, splenomegaly, antimalarial antibodies, immunoglobulin levels, and reticuloendothelial phagocytic function was undertaken in patients with Burkitt's lymphoma in Uganda. The results reveal no difference between the Burkitt patients and controls, with the exception of lower IgM levels among the lymphoma patients. This study provides partial support for the epidemiological evidence incriminating malaria as a co-factor in the aetiology of Burkitt's lymphoma.

IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES IN ENDOMYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS AND OTHER FORMS OF HEART-DISEASE IN THE TROPICS

A high frequency of circulating heart antibodies is present in African patients, both with and without known cardiac disease, and there is some suggestion that the frequency of these antibodies is higher in patients with endomyocardial fibrosis. This may not be due entirely to the presence of heart-disease but may perhaps reflect the presence of other immunological effects in these patients. Thus the presence of malarial antibodies seems to be associated with a high frequency of circulating heart antibodies and the highly speculative question is raised as to whether these antimalarial antibodies may be cross-reactive with heart tissue analogous to the cross-reaction of streptococci and heart. At present, there is no indication that tests for circulating heart antibodies would be of any value in the diagnosis of an individual cardiovascular problem or of use in surveys for the prevalence of heart-disease in the tropics.