Cytokine profiles in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in central Sudan.

Background: Few data exist concerning pathogenesis of severe malaria in areas of unstable malaria transmission.

Objectives: The study was conducted in Senga hospital, central Sudan, which is characterized by unstable malaria transmission to investigate the cytokine profiles in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the concentrations of three cytokines, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10, in sera of three groups of children (31 in each arm): those with one or more manifestations of severe malaria, those children with uncomplicated P.