INTRODUCTION: Delayed haemolytic anaemia is one of the more
frequent events after treatment with intravenous artesunate in
patients with severe malaria. Little is known about its
frequency and the outcomes of patients with this condition.
METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to describe the
incidence of delayed haemolysis in a cohort of patients with
severe malaria by Plasmodium falciparum treated with artesunate
between August 2013 and July 2015. RESULTS: The study included
52 patients with malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, with 21
having severe malaria. The majority were male (66.7%), and the
median age was 43 years. Four patients (19%) presented
post-artesunate delayed haemolysis 11-13 days from the
initiation of treatment. Two patients required hospital
admission and red blood cell transfusion. CONCLUSION:
Post-artesunate delayed haemolysis is frequent in patients with
severe malaria treated with intravenous artemisinins. These
patients should be monitored for 4 weeks after treatment is
started
