HIV coinfection influences the inflammatory response but not the outcome of cerebral malaria in Malawian children

•Characteristic malaria retinopathy refined the diagnosis of cerebral malaria.•HIV-infected cases had markedly lower TNF, IL10 and ICAM-1 than uninfected cases.•HIV-infected children were older and more likely to have comorbidities.•Peripheral parasite count, HRP2 and mortality were unaffected by HIV status.