Pathophysiology of acute falciparum malaria: II. Fluid compartmentalization

Abstract Studies of body fluid compartmentalization in patients with naturally acquired falciparum malaria demonstrated an increased plasma volume during the acute phase of the illness with a return toward normal during convalescence. There was no significant abnormality of total body water or extracellular fluid volume. It is suggested that generalized vasodilatation during the acute illness decreases effective circulating blood volume and that the increase in plasma volume represents a compensatory attempt to correct this homeostatic defect.