Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses in adult patients with chagas disease treated with a new formulation of benznidazole

Authors

Marisa Liliana Fernández, Instituto Nacional de Diagnostico e Investigacion de la Enfermedad de Chagas Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben
Maria Elena Marson, Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Juan Carlos Ramirez, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Guido Mastrantonio, Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Alejandro Gabriel Schijman, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Jaime Altcheh, Hospital de Ninos Ricardo Gutierrez
Adelina Rosa Riarte, Instituto Nacional de Diagnostico e Investigacion de la Enfermedad de Chagas Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben
Facundo García Bournissen, Hospital de Ninos Ricardo Gutierrez

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2016

Journal

Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Volume

111

Issue

3

First Page

218

Last Page

221

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1590/0074-02760150401

Abstract

Pharmacological treatment of Chagas disease with benznidazole (BNZ) is effective in children in all stages, but it is controversial in chronically infected adults. We report the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in six adult patients with Chagas disease treated with the new BNZ formulation (ABARAX®) in doses between 2.5-5.5 mg/Kg/ day. All but one patient had plasmatic BNZ concentrations within the expected range. All patients finalised treatment with nondetectable Trypanosoma cruzi quantitative polymerase chain reaction, which remained nondetectable at the six month follow-up. Our data suggests parasitological responses with the new BNZ and supports the hypothesis that treatment protocols with lower BNZ doses may be effective.