Circulating levels of CCL4 (also known as MIP-1β), CXCL10 (also known as IP-10), CXCL4 and CXCL8 have been found to be significantly elevated in CM cases compared with mild malaria cases or healthy control individuals (John et al.2006, 2008b; Armah et al.2007; Jain et al.2008; Wilson et al.2011). Here, CXCL8 is linked to malaria.