Experimental and clinical treatment of Chagas disease : a review.
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2017
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Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that infects a broad range of
triatomines and mammalian species, including man. It afflicts 8 million people in Latin America, and its incidence is
increasing in nonendemic countries owing to rising international immigration and nonvectorial transmission routes such
as blood donation. Since the 1960s, the only drugs available for the clinical treatment of this infection have been
benznidazole (BZ) and nifurtimox (NFX). Treatment with these trypanocidal drugs is recommended in both the acute and
chronic phases of CD. These drugs have low cure rates mainly during the chronic phase, in addition both drugs present
side effects that may result in the interruption of the treatment. Thus, more efficient and better-tolerated new drugs or
pharmaceutical formulations containing BZ or NFX are urgently needed. Here, we review the drugs currently used for CD
chemotherapy, ongoing clinical assays, and most-promising new experimental drugs. In addition, the mechanism of
action of the commercially available drugs, NFX and BZ, the biodistribution of the latter, and the potential for novel
formulations of BZ based on nanotechnology are discussed. Taken together, the literature emphasizes the urgent need for
new therapies for acute and chronic CD.
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SALES JÚNIOR, P. A. et al. Experimental and clinical treatment of Chagas disease : a review. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 97, n. 5, p. 1289-1303, 2017. Disponível em: <http://www.ajtmh.org/docserver/fulltext/14761645/97/5/tpmd160761.pdf?expires=1551279084&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=3C4328E440B8C2D7A5A5F01F38C8FF26>. Acesso em: 21 fev. 2019.