EO Olowoyeye¹ , JF Akinseye¹, AH Egbebi¹, AO Olowoyeye-Ebenezer²

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of E-selectin and acid phosphatase as markers of disease severity. Methods: A total of 168 patients comprising 84 malaria patients and 84 healthy patients were selected from three health facilities: General Hospital, Ilupeju, Itapa Ekiti, General Hospital Oye Ekiti and General Hospital, Ayede Ekiti, which collectively represent all public secondary hospitals within Oye Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Blood samples collected were stored in ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) bottles and were tested for parasite density. Serum samples were used to determine E-selectin levels of the participants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Acid phosphatase was determined using colorimetric methods. Axillary temperature was measured using a thermometer. Results: Malaria infection was associated with significantly increased E-selectin and acid phosphatase levels compared with controls (p < 0.05). However, correlation analyses indicated no statistically significant relationship existed between E-selectin, acid phosphatase and parasite density. Similarly, only parasite density showed a significant correlation with temperature (r = 0.272, p = 0.012). Conclusion: E-selectin and acid phosphatase increase in malaria infection; however, their role as predictors of disease severity is limited. This reveals that both markers are elevated in malaria infections, but neither E-selectin nor acid phosphatase correlates significantly with parasite density or body temperature, which are indicators of disease severity. This finding is crucial because it shows the diagnostic rather than prognostic potential of these markers.