Towards a paradigm shift in the treatment of chronic Chagas disease

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2013
Document Type:
Journal Article
Theme:
Health
Authors:
Torrico, F., Ribeiro, I., Sosa-Estani, S., Araujo-Jorge, T., de Noya, B.A., Gascon, J., Grijalva, M.J., Guhle, F., Lopez, M.C., Ramsey, J.M., Schijman, A.G., Viotti, R.

Abstract

Treatment for Chagas disease with currently available medications is recommended universally only for acute cases (all ages) and for children up to 14 years old. The World Health Organization, however, also recommends antiparasitic specific treatment for all chronic phase T. cruzi-infected individuals, even though in current medical practice this remains controversial, and most physicians only prescribe palliative treatment for adult Chagas patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The present opinion, prepared by members of the NHEPACHA network (New diagnostic and treatment tools for Patients with Chagas Disease, in Spanish), reviews the paradigm shift based on clinical and immunological evidence and argues in favor of antiparasitic treatment for all chronic patients.

Citation

Viotti, R.; de Noya, B.A.; Araujo-Jorge, T.; Grijalva, M.J.; Guhle, F.; Lopez, M.C.; Ramsey, J.M.; Ribeiro, I.; Schijman, A.G.; Sosa-Estani, S.; Torrico, F.; Gascon, J. Towards a Paradigm Shift in the Treatment of Chronic Chagas Disease. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2013) 58 (2) 635-639. [DOI: 10.1128/AAC.01662-13]

Towards a paradigm shift in the treatment of chronic Chagas disease

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Published 1 January 2013
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