title: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses in adult patients with Chagas disease treated with a new formulation of benznidazole.
abstract: Pharmacological treatment of Chagas disease with benznidazole (BNZ) is effective in children in all stages, but it is controversial in chronically infected adults. We report the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in six adult patients with Chagas disease treated with the new BNZ formulation (ABARAX®) in doses between 2.5-5.5 mg/Kg/day. All but one patient had plasmatic BNZ concentrations within the expected range. All patients finalised treatment with nondetectable Trypanosoma cruzi quantitative polymerase chain reaction, which remained nondetectable at the six month follow-up. Our data suggests parasitological responses with the new BNZ and supports the hypothesis that treatment protocols with lower BNZ doses may be effective.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr M Fatala Chabén, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marisa Liliana
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Marson
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastrantonio
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alejandro Gabriel
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schijman
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aire, Argentina.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altcheh
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr M Fatala Chabén, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Adelina Rosa
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Riarte
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aire, Argentina.
authors.forename: Facundo García
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Bournissen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C009999:benzonidazole