benzinidazol

Benznidazole is indicated in the treatment of Chagas' disease, which is endemic in Latin America. However, it has numerous adverse effects and is effective only at certain disease stages. Because of these drawbacks and the appearance of resistance to benzinidazole, there is ongoing research for alternative therapeutic strategies and new drugs.

BACKGROUND: Chagas' disease is a parasitic infection that provokes a severe form of dilated cardiomyopathy. In the initial experience with heart transplantation with Chagas' disease, a high rate of acute reactivation has been reported. Although benzinidazole and nifurtimox are effective in the treatment of reactivation or of the acute phase of the disease they are associated with important adverse effects. Allopurinol has substantial activity against Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro, in the experimental laboratory and in chronic human Chagas' disease; however, there is no information regarding its action in Chagas' reactivation after heart transplantation...