Amiodarone and itraconazole: a rational therapeutic approach for the treatment of chronic Chagas' disease.
In the Americas, approximately 20 million people suffer from the chronic phases of Chagas' disease, of which chagasic cardiomyopathy is the most important clinical feature. The elimination of Trypanosoma cruzi is a pivotal step in arresting the evolution of the disease. Unfortunately, currently available chemotherapy is mostly ineffective due to its limited efficacy and toxic side effects. The following case highlights the efficacy of new diagnostic and follow-up methods in the evaluation of novel trypanocidal compounds such as amiodarone and itraconazole.
Paniz-Mondolfi
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Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St Luke's-Roosevelt-Beth Israel Medical Center, University Hospital of Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. ap2647@columbia.edu
Pérez-Alvarez
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AM
Lanza
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Márquez
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E
Concepción
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JL
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D000638:Amiodarone