Antiparasitical chemotherapy in Chagas' disease cardiomyopathy: current evidence.
Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy affects 20% of Chagas' disease patients. At present, Chagas' disease chemotherapy uses nitrofurans, benznidazole (Rochagan®, Rodanil®, Roche) or nifurtimox (Lampit®, Bayer). Treatment during acute and recent chronic phases in childhood effects 71.5% and 57.6%, respectively, of parasitological cure. However, in clinical trials during the late chronic phase, only 5.9% of parasitological cure were achieved. This review focuses on the benefit from aetiological treatment to avoid, stop or revert myocarditis. Divergent data gathered from clinical practice are not convincing to support prescription of aetiological treatment as routine for indeterminate and cardiac chronic patients.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. pauloguedes@cb.ufrn.br
Paulo Marcos
PM
Matta Guedes
Fredy Roberto Salazar
FR
Gutierrez
Manuela Sales Lima
MS
Nascimento
Maria Adelaide
MA
Do-Valle-Matta
João Santana
JS
Silva
D000208:Acute Disease; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents