Reduced Cholesterol Levels during Acute Human Babesiosis.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-18-2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Babesiosis, an intra-erythrocytic protozoan disease, is an emerging zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide. Cholesterol levels are correlated with severe infections, such as sepsis and COVID-19, and anecdotal reports suggest that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol declines during acute babesiosis. Our aim was to describe the cholesterol levels in patients with acute babesiosis diagnosed in an endemic area in New York, hypothesizing that HDL levels correlate with the severity of infection.
METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of adult patients with babesiosis diagnosed by identification of
RESULTS: A total of 39 patients with babesiosis had a lipid profile drawn on presentation. The patients were divided into two groups for comparison based on the treating physician's clinical decision: 33 patients who were admitted to the hospital and 8 patients who were evaluated as outpatients. A history of hypertension was more common in admitted patients (37% vs. 17%,
CONCLUSION: LDL and HDL levels are significantly reduced during acute babesiosis, suggesting that cholesterol depletion may predict disease severity. Pathogen and host factors may contribute to a reduction in serum cholesterol levels during acute babesiosis.
Volume
12
Issue
4
ISSN
2076-0817
Published In/Presented At
Marcos, L. A., Vorkas, C. K., Mann, I., Garry, E., Lamba, P., Pham, S. K., Spector, R., Papamanoli, A., Krivacsy, S., Lum, M., Zahra, A., Hou, W., & Spitzer, E. D. (2023). Reduced Cholesterol Levels during Acute Human Babesiosis. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 12(4), 613. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040613
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
37111499
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article