Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines mediate the progression of severe anemia in malaria-infected children: A prospective study.

Background: Severe Plasmodium falciparum malarial anemia is still the principal cause of death in children in underdeveloped countries. An imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is associated with malaria progression. This study evaluated circulating levels of selected inflammatory cytokines among malaria-infected children in Ghana.