[Efficacy of nifurtimox for the treatment of chronic Chagas disease].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Most Chagas patients belong to the chronic indeterminate stage, in which pharmacological treatment has an inconclusive outcome.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of nifurtimox treatment in chronic asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

METHODS:

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of electronically published literature, with no language, type of study, age or gender restrictions, until September 2010. Studies of chronic asymptomatic Chagas disease patients treated exclusively with nifurtimox were included in the analysis. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using parasitological or serological parameters.

RESULTS:

Of 463 identified studies, 7 were finally selected: 6 observational studies and 1 randomized clinical trial; 4 of the studies were in adults, 3 in children < 14 years. In 6 studies, outcomes were defined by serological techniques. Summary estimate (log odds) was 0.37 (CI9 -1.32 - 2.07).

CONCLUSIONS:

The analyzed studies gave discordant results. Those might be explained by differences in the populations studied, follow-up periods, diagnostic techniques, and sample size. More studies are necessary to obtain conclusive results about treatment efficacy of nifurtimox in this clinical phase of T. cruzi infection.

• Authors: Rodrigo Fuentes B, Mario Maturana A, Rolando de la Cruz M
• Journal: Revista chilena de infectologia : organo oficial de la Sociedad Chilena de Infectologia (Rev Chilena Infectol) Vol. 29 Issue 1 Pg. 82-6 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 0716-1018 [Print] Chile
• Vernacular Title: Eficacia de nifurtimox para el tratamiento de pacientes con enfermedad de Chagas crónica.
• PMID: 22552516 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Trypanocidal Agents
• Nifurtimox

Topics

• Adult
• Chagas Disease (drug therapy)
• Child
• Chronic Disease
• Humans
• Nifurtimox (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Trypanocidal Agents (therapeutic use)