Potassium, the most abundant cation in the human body, regulates intracellular enzyme function and neuromuscular tissue excitability. Serum potassium is normally maintained within the narrow range of 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L.
During malaria infection the cytoplasm of infected erythrocytes is poor in potassium and rich in sodium, a drastic change compared to non infected erythrocytes.
H. Ginsburg,S. Handeli, S. Friedman. Effects of red blood cell potassium and hypertonicity on the growth ofPlasmodium falciparum in culture. Zeitschrift für...
