Decreased plasma levels of factor II+VII+X correlate with increased levels of soluble cytokine receptors in patients with malaria and meningococcal infections

The levels of coagulation factors II+VII+X and of blood platelets (thrombocytes) as well as of cytokines and soluble cytokine receptors were studied in patients with malaria or meningococcal infections. The coagulation factors were decreased particularly in the meningococcal patients, while thrombocytes were lowest in the Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients. There was no correlation between factors II+VII+X and thrombocytes, but plasma levels of coagulation factors II+VII+X were found to correlate inversely with levels of soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) and soluble tumour necrosis factor‐I (sTNF‐RI) in patients with malaria and meningococcal infections. Elevated sIL‐2R and sTNF‐RI levels and decreased coagulation factors reverted to normal within 3–5 days after initiation of therapy in P. falciparum patients followed consecutively. Estimation of coagulation factors may be used to monitor the course of these common and potentially life‐threatening infections.