Serial follow-up of malaria-induced splenic infarction: A case report

Malaria shows various clinical manifestations from mild fever to death depending on the Plasmodium species. Among the complications, reports of malaria-associated splenic infarctions are rare. Here we present a case in which a man suffered from malaria-induced splenic infarction with serial follow-up. A 28-year-old man who served in the military near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was referred to the emergency room for fever beginning 1 week ago. He suffered upper abdominal pain for 2 days. At the time of his visit, he experienced a fever spiking up to 39.8°C. In the patient's computed tomography (CT) test, splenomegaly with low attenuation density suggesting splenic infarction and hepatomegaly was shown. Because red blood cells infected by a plasmodium species were shown in a peripheral blood smear, he was admitted for malaria infection. The patient was given oral chloroquine on the day of admission and on hospital day (HOD) 3, Plasmodium vivax was detected in his malaria PCR test. After conservative management, the patient's condition improved. The patient was discharged on HOD 15 without any symptoms. At this time, the patient's spleen size decreased to the upper limit size of normal according to an ultrasonography. After that, the patient visited the outpatient department. Although low attenuation density still appeared in the following CT on HOD 30, a subsequent ultrasonography on HOD 60 did not show any specific finding. Although malaria-induced splenic infarction is still rare, this rate may increase. Most of the cases can be treated without surgery.

Keywords: Conservative treatment; Follow-up studies; Malaria; Plasmodium vivax; Splenic infarction.