Abstract

RASSI, Anis et al. Treatment of chronic Chagas' disease with an association of nifurtimox and corticoid. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. [online]. 2002, vol.35, n.6, pp. 547-550. ISSN 0037-8682.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822002000600001.

Ten patients with chronic Chagas' disease were treated with nifurtimox (8-9mg/kg/day) associated with betamethasone (9mg/day initially and then gradually reduced) during 60 days, with one exception. It was intended to combine the respective anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory actions of these drugs. The expected stimulating effect of betamethasone on the infection could possibly enhance the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi action of nifurtimox. Long term persistence of negative xenodiagnosis, used to control the results, was observed in only one of the cases. Regaridng the other patients, post-treatment positivity of xenodiagnosis and serological testes attested the failure of this therapy. As this study has demonstrated, adequate and long term follow-up of treated cases is necessary to ensure correct conclusions.

Keywords : Chagas' disease; Chronic stage; Treatment; Concomitant use of nifurtimox and corticoid.