Cerebral malaria a severe complication of an infection caused by the parasite
Plasmodium falciparum. It is an acute encephalopathy and currently the adjunctive
therapy supporting the anti-malarial treatment consists of glucose and oxygen
supplementation. Wishing to improve the adjunctive therapy, we have studied the use of
erythropoietin (EPO) and its possible neuroprotective effects in a murine model of
cerebral malaria. EPO reduces the mortality and neuropathology in this model and is
well tolerated. Our research is discussed in relation to the current literature and the
potential as using EPO as adjunct therapy in humans is discussed.
Keywords: Cerebral malaria, Plasmodium, murine models, erythropoietin,
adjunctive therapy, inflammation, hypoxia, neuropathology, neuroregeneration.
