In 34 patients with a primary attack of P. falciparum malaria, hyperbasophilic mononucleated cells (atypical lymphocytes) were found 22 times. These cells appeared around the 3rd or 4th day of fever and represented 4 to 10% of all white blood cells in 14 cases, 10 to 15% in 6 cases, and 15 to 21% in 2 cases. Their transitory appearance seems to reflect the involvement of cell-mediated immunity, and more specifically of K cell-related cytotoxicity.
Cell Count Humans