Treatment of Chagas Disease in the United States

AbstractPurpose of ReviewChagas disease (CD) is endemic to much of Latin America, but also present in the United States (U.S.). Following a lengthy asymptomatic period, CD produces serious cardiac or gastrointestinal complications in 30 –40% of people. Less than 1% of the estimated six million cases in the Americas, including 326,000–347,000 in the U.S., are diagnosed. Infected persons are typically unaware and the bulk of clinicians are unfamiliar with current treatment guidelines. This review provides U.S. and other clinician s with the latest knowledge of CD treatment.Recent FindingsChagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) causes severe fibrosis and autonomic damage in the myocardium. Eliminating the parasite through antitrypanosomal therapy with benznidazole, a nitroimidazole derivative or nifurtimox, a nitrofuran compound, potentially prevents heart failure and other sequelae of advanced CCM. Benznidazole, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children 2 –12 years old, is the first-line therapy; optimal dosages are currently being studied. Antitrypanosomal therapy prevents congenital transmission; produces high cure rates for acute, congenital, and early chronic cases; and improves clinical outcomes in adult chronic indeterminate cases. However, this benefit was not observed in a large clinical trial that included patients with advanced CCM.SummaryTreatment with antitrypanosomal drugs can cure CD in acute, congenital, and early chronic cases and ...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research