Thrombocytopenia and Release of Activated von Willebrand Factor during Early<i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>Malaria

Abstract

P. falciparum induces systemic acute endothelial cell activation and release of activated vWF immediately after the onset of blood-stage infection. The resulting platelet agglutination may result in early thrombocytopenia and may play a role in the pathogenesis of malaria.