Current chemotherapy of human African trypanosomiasis.
Human African trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense that has re-emerged in recent years. However, very little progress has been made in the development of new drugs against this disease. Most drugs still in use were developed one or more decades ago, and are generally toxic and of limited effectiveness. The most recently introduced compound, eflornithine, is only useful against sleeping sickness caused by T. b. gambiense, and is prohibitively expensive for the African developing countries. We present here an overview of today's approved and clinically used drugs against this disease.
Docampo
Roberto
R
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA. rodoc@uiuc.edu
Moreno
Silvia N J
SN
D000818:Animals; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008549:Melarsoprol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013498:Suramin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000187:drug effects; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D013498:Suramin; D010419:Pentamidine; D008549:Melarsoprol; D000518:Eflornithine