Browsing by Subject "Parasitological follow-up"

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    Usefulness of PCR for monitoring benznidazole response in patients with chronic Chagas’ disease: a prospective study in a non-disease-endemic country
    (Oxford University Press, 2010-06-11) Murcia, Laura; Carrilero, Bartolome; Muñoz, M. Jose; Iborra, M. Asunción; Segovia, Manuel; Genética y Microbiología
    Objectives: This prospective study focused on the evaluation of antiparasitic therapy in chronic Chagas’ disease, monitored by PCR. Patients and methods: One hundred and eighty-one patients, all seropositive for Trypanosoma cruzi infection, underwent specific chemotherapy with benznidazole. Twelve patients were classified as young (2–19 years), 122 patients were classified as adults (20–39 years) and 47 patients were classified as seniors (≥40 years). In total, 116 (64%) were asymptomatic and 65 (36%) were symptomatic. Patients were monitored for 90, 150 and 420 days after treatment by PCR and serology. Results: Before treatment, 68% had a positive PCR result. PCR positivity was significantly more frequent in patients aged 2–19 years (P¼0.0007) and in short-term immigrants (P¼0.0076). No differences in PCR sensitivity were observed between samples of patients with chronic symptomatic or indeterminate Chagas’ disease. All patients presented an early conversion of PCR results 90 days post-treatment. However, at the end of the follow-up period PCR had become positive in four patients (4 out of 58 patients; 6.9%) who had strictly adhered to the treatment and in one who did not complete the treatment. Only one patient showed an alternating PCR during follow-up. Conclusions: We conclude that PCR is a useful tool for the early detection of parasite susceptibility to benznidazole and for the post-treatment parasitological follow-up of patients with chronic Chagas’ disease.