J Rheum Dis.  2012 Jun;19(3):160-162. 10.4078/jrd.2012.19.3.160.

An Atypical Case of Plasmodium vivax Malaria after Initiating Adalimumab Therapy

• Shin SY
• Seong GM
• Kim YR
• Kang JW
• Kim J

• KMID: 2223099
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2012.19.3.160

Abstract

We report an unusual case of Plasmodium vivax malaria that occurred in a 22-year-old ankylosing spondylitis patient after initiating adalimumab therapy. P. falciparum malaria was initially included as a possible differential diagnosis due to hyperparasitemia and similar features in the peripheral blood smear. The patient was successfully treated with conventional therapy for P. vivax malaria.

Keyword

Adalimumab; Malaria vivax; Spondylitis ankylosing

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Malaria
Malaria, Vivax
Plasmodium
Plasmodium vivax
Spondylitis, Ankylosing
Young Adult
Adalimumab
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized

Figure

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  Figure 1 Peripheral blood smear findings show many trophozoites, schizonts and ring forms (×1,000) (A). Multiple ring forms are present in a red blood cell (B, C), located peripherally (D).

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