Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria
Abstract Background Endocan, a component of endothelial glycocalyx, is a recognized biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in various inflammatory and infectious diseases. Malaria, characterized by marked endothelial activation and microvascular pathology, may involve endocan, but its role remains unc...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05483-7 |
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| author | Kwannan Nantavisai Srisombat Puttikamonkul Parnpen Viriyavejakul |
| author_facet | Kwannan Nantavisai Srisombat Puttikamonkul Parnpen Viriyavejakul |
| author_sort | Kwannan Nantavisai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Endocan, a component of endothelial glycocalyx, is a recognized biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in various inflammatory and infectious diseases. Malaria, characterized by marked endothelial activation and microvascular pathology, may involve endocan, but its role remains unclear. This study aimed to assess serum endocan levels in various clinical presentations of malaria and evaluate its correlation with laboratory parameters of disease severity. Methods Leftover serum samples from 99 participants were categorized into four groups: healthy controls (n = 20), Plasmodium vivax malaria (n = 36), uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria (n = 30), and severe P. falciparum malaria (n = 13). Serum endocan concentrations were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on day 0 (pre-treatment) and day 7 (post-treatment). Correlation analyses examined associations between endocan levels and laboratory parameters, including parasite density, white blood cell count, haemoglobin, and platelet count. Results All malaria groups showed significantly higher serum endocan levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Levels were highest in severe P. falciparum (median 4.67 [IQR 2.85–7.93] ng/ml), followed by uncomplicated P. falciparum (median 3.27 [IQR 2.24–4.33] ng/ml), and P. vivax malaria (median 1.85 [IQR 1.44–3.23] ng/ml). Endocan correlated positively with parasite density in P. vivax (r s = 0.4632, p = 0.0066) and severe P. falciparum malaria (r s = 0.6264, p = 0.0251) and negatively with platelet count in P. vivax infections (r s = − 0.5523, p = 0.001). Conclusion Serum endocan is elevated in malaria in a severity-dependent manner—highest in severe P. falciparum malaria—and correlates with circulating parasite density and thrombocytopenia, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of endothelial injury in malaria. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b00e8e4841a0489f873573a67b2709b8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-b00e8e4841a0489f873573a67b2709b82025-08-20T04:01:47ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752025-07-012411810.1186/s12936-025-05483-7Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malariaKwannan Nantavisai0Srisombat Puttikamonkul1Parnpen Viriyavejakul2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot UniversityDepartment of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityAbstract Background Endocan, a component of endothelial glycocalyx, is a recognized biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in various inflammatory and infectious diseases. Malaria, characterized by marked endothelial activation and microvascular pathology, may involve endocan, but its role remains unclear. This study aimed to assess serum endocan levels in various clinical presentations of malaria and evaluate its correlation with laboratory parameters of disease severity. Methods Leftover serum samples from 99 participants were categorized into four groups: healthy controls (n = 20), Plasmodium vivax malaria (n = 36), uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria (n = 30), and severe P. falciparum malaria (n = 13). Serum endocan concentrations were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on day 0 (pre-treatment) and day 7 (post-treatment). Correlation analyses examined associations between endocan levels and laboratory parameters, including parasite density, white blood cell count, haemoglobin, and platelet count. Results All malaria groups showed significantly higher serum endocan levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Levels were highest in severe P. falciparum (median 4.67 [IQR 2.85–7.93] ng/ml), followed by uncomplicated P. falciparum (median 3.27 [IQR 2.24–4.33] ng/ml), and P. vivax malaria (median 1.85 [IQR 1.44–3.23] ng/ml). Endocan correlated positively with parasite density in P. vivax (r s = 0.4632, p = 0.0066) and severe P. falciparum malaria (r s = 0.6264, p = 0.0251) and negatively with platelet count in P. vivax infections (r s = − 0.5523, p = 0.001). Conclusion Serum endocan is elevated in malaria in a severity-dependent manner—highest in severe P. falciparum malaria—and correlates with circulating parasite density and thrombocytopenia, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of endothelial injury in malaria.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05483-7EndocanMalariaPlasmodium falciparumPlasmodium vivaxEndothelial dysfunctionBiomarker |
| spellingShingle | Kwannan Nantavisai Srisombat Puttikamonkul Parnpen Viriyavejakul Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria Malaria Journal Endocan Malaria Plasmodium falciparum Plasmodium vivax Endothelial dysfunction Biomarker |
| title | Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria |
| title_full | Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria |
| title_short | Preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria |
| title_sort | preliminary assessment of serum endocan as a biomarker of disease severity in plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax malaria |
| topic | Endocan Malaria Plasmodium falciparum Plasmodium vivax Endothelial dysfunction Biomarker |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05483-7 |
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