Variability in white blood cell count during uncomplicated malaria and implications for parasite density estimation: a WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network individual patient data meta-analysis
Authors:   WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network White Blood Cell Count in Malaria Study Group, Wynberg Elke , Commons Robert J. , Humphreys Georgina , Ashurst Hazel , Burrow Rebekah , Adjei George O. , Adjuik Martin , Anstey Nicholas M. , Anvikar Anup , Baird Kevin J. , Barber Bridget E. , Barennes Hubert , Baudin Elisabeth , Bell David J. , Bethell Delia , Binh Tran Quang , Borghini-Fuhrer Isabelle , Chu Cindy S. , Daher Andre , D’Alessandro Umberto , Das Debashish , Davis Timothy M. E. , de Vries Peter J. , Djimde Abdoulaye A. , Dondorp Arjen M. , Dorsey Grant , Faucher Jean-François F. , Fogg Carole , Gaye Oumar , Grigg Matthew , Hatz Christoph , Kager Piet A. , Lacerda Marcus , Laman Moses , Mårtensson Andreas , Menan Herv Ignace Eby , Monteiro Wuelton M. , Moore Brioni R. , Nosten Francois , Ogutu Bernhards , Osorio Lyda , Penali Louis K. , Pereira Dhelio B. , Rahim Awab G. , Ramharter Michael , Sagara Issaka , Schramm Birgit , Seidlein Lorenz , Siqueira Andre M. , Sirima Sodiomon B. , Starzengruber Peter , Sutanto Inge , Taylor Walter R. , Toure Offianan A. , Utzinger Jürg , Valea Innocent , Valentini Giovanni , White Nicholas J. , William Timothy , Woodrow Charles J. , Richmond Caitlin L. , Guerin Philippe J. , Price Ric N. , Stepniewska Kasia 
Published: June 2023

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that when peripheral malarial parasitaemia is quantified by thick film microscopy, an actual white blood cell (WBC) count from a concurrently collected blood sample is used in calculations. However, in resource-limited settings an assumed WBC count is often used instead. The aim of this study was to describe the variability in WBC count during acute uncomplicated malaria, and estimate the impact of using an assumed value of WBC on estimates of parasite density and clearance.

Methods

Uncomplicated malaria drug efficacy studies that measured WBC count were selected from the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network data repository for an individual patient data meta-analysis of WBC counts. Regression models with random intercepts for study-site were used to assess WBC count variability at presentation and during follow-up. Inflation factors for parasitaemia density, and clearance estimates were calculated for methods using assumed WBC counts (8000 cells/µL and age-stratified values) using estimates derived from the measured WBC value as reference.

Results

Eighty-four studies enrolling 27,656 patients with clinically uncomplicated malaria were included. Geometric mean WBC counts (× 1000 cells/µL) in age groups < 1, 1–4, 5–14 and ≥ 15 years were 10.5, 8.3, 7.1, 5.7 and 7.5, 7.0, 6.5, 6.0 for individuals with falciparum (n = 24,978) and vivax (n = 2678) malaria, respectively. At presentation, higher WBC counts were seen among patients with higher parasitaemia, severe anaemia and, for individuals with vivax malaria, in regions with shorter regional relapse periodicity. Among falciparum malaria patients, using an assumed WBC count of 8000 cells/µL resulted in parasite density underestimation by a median (IQR) of 26% (4–41%) in infants < 1 year old but an overestimation by 50% (16–91%) in adults aged ≥ 15 years. Use of age-stratified assumed WBC values removed systematic bias but did not improve precision of parasitaemia estimation. Imprecision of parasite clearance estimates was only affected by the within-patient WBC variability over time, and remained < 10% for 79% of patients.

Conclusions

Using an assumed WBC value for parasite density estimation from a thick smear may lead to underdiagnosis of hyperparasitaemia and could adversely affect clinical management; but does not result in clinically consequential inaccuracies in the estimation of the prevalence of prolonged parasite clearance and artemisinin resistance.