Five-year serological and clinical evolution of chronic Chagas disease patients in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected infectious disease that exerts the highest public health burden in the Americas. There are two anti-parasitic drugs approved for its treatment-benznidazole and nifurtimox-but the absence of biomarkers to early assess treatment efficacy hinders patients´ follow-up.

Methodology/principal findings

We conducted a longitudinal, observational study among a cohort of 106 chronically T. cruzi-infected patients in Cochabamba (Bolivia) who completed the recommended treatment of benznidazole. Participants were followed-up for five years, in which we collected clinical and serological data, including yearly electrocardiograms and optical density readouts from two ELISAs (total and recombinant antigens).

SUBMITTER: Pinto J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10756508 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature