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Altcheh J, Moscatelli G, Caruso M, Moroni S, Bisio M, Miranda MR, Monla C, Vaina M, Valdez M, Moran L, Ramirez T, Patiño OL, Riarte A, Gonzalez N, Fernandes J, Alves F, Ribeiro I, Garcia-Bournissen F. Population pharmacokinetics of benznidazole in neonates, infants and children using a new pediatric formulation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010850. [PMID: 37256863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a major need for information on pharmacokinetics (PK) of benznidazole (BNZ) in children with Chagas disease (CD). We conducted a multicentre population PK, safety and efficacy study in children, infants and neonates with CD treated with BNZ (formulated in 100 mg tablets or 12.5 mg dispersible tablets, developed by the pharmaceutical company LAFEPE, in a collaboration with DNDi). METHODS 81 children 0-12 years old were enrolled at 5 pediatric centers in Argentina. Diagnosis of T. cruzi infection was confirmed by direct microscopic examination, or at least two positive conventional serological tests. Subject enrolment was stratified by age: newborns to 2 years (minimum of 10 newborns) and >2-12 years. BNZ 7.5 mg/kg/d was administered in two daily doses for 60 days. Five blood samples per child were obtained at random times within pre-defined time windows at Day 0 at 2-5 h post-dose; during steady state, one sample at Day 7 and at Day 30; and two samples at 12-24 h after final BNZ dose at Day 60. The primary efficacy endpoint was parasitological clearance by qualitative PCR at the end of treatment. RESULTS Forty-one (51%) patients were under 2 years of age (including 14 newborns <1 month of age). Median age at enrolment was 22 months (mean: 43.2; interquartile range (IQR) 7-72 months). The median measured BNZ Cmax was 8.32 mg/L (IQR 5.95-11.8; range 1.79-19.38). Median observed BNZ Cmin (trough) concentration was 2 mg/L (IQR 1.25-3.77; range 0.14-7.08). Overall median simulated Css was 6.3 mg/L (IQR 4.7-8.5 mg/L). CL/F increased quickly during the first month of postnatal life and reached adult levels after approximately 10 years of age. Negative qPCR was observed at the end of treatment in all 76 patients who completed the treatment. Five patients discontinued treatment (3 due to AEs and 2 due to lack of compliance). CONCLUSION We observed lower BNZ plasma concentrations in infants and children than those previously reported in adults treated with comparable mg/kg doses. Despite these lower concentrations, pediatric treatment was well tolerated and universally effective, with a high response rate and infrequent, mild AEs. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered in clinicaltrials.gov #NCT01549236.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Altcheh
- Servicio de Parasitologia y Chagas, Hospital de Niños "Dr Ricardo Gutierrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Moscatelli
- Servicio de Parasitologia y Chagas, Hospital de Niños "Dr Ricardo Gutierrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin Caruso
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Samanta Moroni
- Servicio de Parasitologia y Chagas, Hospital de Niños "Dr Ricardo Gutierrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Margarita Bisio
- Servicio de Parasitologia y Chagas, Hospital de Niños "Dr Ricardo Gutierrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Rosa Miranda
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Celia Monla
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Salta, Argentina
| | - Maria Vaina
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Salta, Argentina
| | - Maria Valdez
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Salta, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia Moran
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Teresa Ramirez
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
| | - Oscar Ledesma Patiño
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Adelina Riarte
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicolas Gonzalez
- Servicio de Parasitologia y Chagas, Hospital de Niños "Dr Ricardo Gutierrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jayme Fernandes
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Alves
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Facundo Garcia-Bournissen
- Servicio de Parasitologia y Chagas, Hospital de Niños "Dr Ricardo Gutierrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina
- PEDCHAGAS Network (Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Hospital de Niños Doctor Hector Quintana, Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero, & Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben), Argentina
- Division of Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Lascano F, García Bournissen F, Altcheh J. Review of pharmacological options for the treatment of Chagas disease. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 88:383-402. [PMID: 33314266 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a worldwide problem, with over 8 million people infected in both rural and urban areas. CD was first described over a century ago, but only two drugs are currently available for CD treatment: benznidazole (BZN) and nifurtimox (NF). Treating CD-infected patients, especially children and women of reproductive age, is vital in order to prevent long-term sequelae, such as heart and gastrointestinal dysfunction, but this aim is still far from being accomplished. Currently, the strongest data to support benefit-risk considerations come from trials in children. Treatment response biomarkers need further development as serology is being questioned as the best method to assess treatment response. This article is a narrative review on the pharmacology of drugs for CD, particularly BZN and NF. Data on drug biopharmaceutical characteristics, safety and efficacy of both drugs are summarized from a clinical perspective. Current data on alternative compounds under evaluation for CD treatment, and new possible treatment response biomarkers are also discussed. Early diagnosis and treatment of CD, especially in paediatric patients, is vital for an effective and safe use of the available drugs (i.e. BZN and NF). New biomarkers for CD are urgently needed for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment efficacy, and to guide efforts from academia and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the process of new drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Lascano
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Gobierno de la Ciudad de la Nación Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Facundo García Bournissen
- Division of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Jaime Altcheh
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Gobierno de la Ciudad de la Nación Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Adverse Events Associated with Nifurtimox Treatment for Chagas Disease in Children and Adults. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01135-20. [PMID: 33168612 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01135-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nifurtimox (NF) is one of the only two drugs currently available for Chagas disease (ChD) treatment. However, data on NF safety are scarce, and many physicians defer or refuse NF treatment because of concerns about drug tolerance. In a retrospective study of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with NF treatment of ChD, children received NF doses of 10 to 15 mg/kg/day for 60 to 90 days, and adults received 8 to 10 mg/kg/day for 30 days. A total of 215 children (median age, 2.6 years; range, 0 to 17 years) and 105 adults (median age, 34 years; range, 18 to 57 years) were enrolled. Overall, 127/320 (39.7%) patients developed ADRs, with an incidence of 64/105 adults and 63/215 children (odds ratio [OR] = 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 6.3). We observed 215 ADRs, 131 in adults (median, 2 events/patient; interquartile range for the 25th to 75th percentiles [IQR25-75], 1 to 3) and 84 in children (median, 1 event/patient; IQR25-75 = 1 to 1.5) (P adjusted < 0.001). ADRs were mainly mild and moderate. Severe ADRs were infrequent (1.2% in children and 0.9% in adults). Nutritional, central nervous, and digestive systems were the most frequently affected, without differences between groups. Treatment was discontinued in 31/320 (9.7%) patients without differences between groups. However, ADR-related discontinuations occurred more frequently in adults than in children (OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 1.5 to 24). Our study supports the safety of NF for ChD treatment. Delaying NF treatment due to safety concerns does not seem to be supported by the evidence. (This study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT04274101.).
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Galindo Bedor DC, Tavares Cavalcanti Bedor NC, Viturino da Silva JW, Damasceno Sousa G, Pereira de Santana D, Garcia-Bournissen F, Altcheh J, Blum B, Alves F, Ribeiro I. Dried Blood Spot Technique-Based Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method as a Simple Alternative for Benznidazole Pharmacokinetic Assessment. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:e00845-18. [PMID: 30275095 PMCID: PMC6256767 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00845-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is recognized as one of the major neglected global tropical diseases. Benznidazole (BNZ) is the drug of choice for the treatment of adults, young infants, and newborns with CD. However, the pharmacokinetics (PK) of BNZ have been poorly evaluated in all age groups, with consequent gaps in knowledge about PK-pharmacodynamic relationships in CD. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a bioanalytical method to quantify BNZ levels in small-volume whole-blood samples collected as dried blood spots (DBS). The analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography-positive electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. PK evaluation in healthy male volunteers was conducted to verify the correlation between DBS and plasma BNZ concentrations. The calibration curve was linear from 50 to 20,000 ng · ml-1 Intra- and interday precision and bias values were less than 14.87% (n = 9) and 9.81% (n = 27), respectively. The recovery rates ranged from 94 to 100% with no matrix effect. There was no hematocrit level effect in a range of 20 to 70%. The PK results obtained from DBS and plasma were comparable (r2 = 0.8295) and equivalent to previously published information on BNZ. BNZ in DBS was stable at room temperature for more than one year. This article describes the first microsampling method for measuring BNZ levels in DBS that has the potential to facilitate broad implementation of PK in clinical trials involving adult and pediatric patients in remote areas and helps to address existing knowledge gaps in the treatment of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo César Galindo Bedor
- Núcleo de Desenvolvimento Farmacêutico e Cosmético/Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - José Wellithom Viturino da Silva
- Núcleo de Desenvolvimento Farmacêutico e Cosmético/Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Giovana Damasceno Sousa
- Núcleo de Desenvolvimento Farmacêutico e Cosmético/Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Davi Pereira de Santana
- Núcleo de Desenvolvimento Farmacêutico e Cosmético/Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Facundo Garcia-Bournissen
- Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children's Hospital Ricardo Gutierrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jaime Altcheh
- Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children's Hospital Ricardo Gutierrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bethania Blum
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Fabiana Alves
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract
Calculating epidemiological measures of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is complex, because it involves several species, different stages of infection in humans and multiple transmission routes. Using the next-generation matrix method, we analysed a model which considers the three stages of human infection, triatomines and dogs (the main domestic reservoirs of T. cruzi when triatomines are present) and the main transmission routes. We derived R 0 and type-reproduction numbers T. We deduced formulas for the number of new infections generated through each transmission route by each infected individual. We applied our findings in Argentine Gran Chaco. The expressions achieved allowed quantifying the high infectivity of dogs and emphasizing the epidemiological importance of the long and asymptomatic chronic indeterminate stage in humans in the spread of the infection. According to the model, it is expected that one infected human infects 21 triatomines, that 100 infected triatomines are necessary to infect one human and 34 to infect a dog, and that each dog infects on average one triatomine per day. Our results may allow quantifying the effect of control measures on infected humans, triatomines and dogs (or other highly infected vertebrate) or on a specific route of transmission, in other scenarios.
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Pull L, Touafek F, Paris L, Le Loup G, Brutus L, Siriez JY. Negativation of Trypanosoma cruzi PCR within Six Months after Treatment of a Child with Nifurtimox. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003667. [PMID: 25951170 PMCID: PMC4423973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Pull
- Service d'Accueil des Urgences Pédiatrique, Hôpital Robert-Debré-Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Feriel Touafek
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et de Mycologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière-Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Luc Paris
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et de Mycologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière-Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Le Loup
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Tenon-Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; UMR216 "Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales," Institut de Recherche pour le Développement-Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Brutus
- UMR216 "Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales," Institut de Recherche pour le Développement-Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Yves Siriez
- Service d'Accueil des Urgences Pédiatrique, Hôpital Robert-Debré-Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
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Martínez N, Elena Marson M, Enrique Mastrantonio G, Raba J, Cerutti S. Development of a LC–MS/MS methodology for the monitoring of the antichagasic drug benznidazole in human urine. Talanta 2015; 131:656-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2014.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Altcheh J, Moscatelli G, Mastrantonio G, Moroni S, Giglio N, Marson ME, Ballering G, Bisio M, Koren G, García-Bournissen F. Population pharmacokinetic study of benznidazole in pediatric Chagas disease suggests efficacy despite lower plasma concentrations than in adults. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2907. [PMID: 24853169 PMCID: PMC4031103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, can lead to long term cardiac morbidity. Treatment of children with benznidazole is effective, but no pediatric pharmacokinetics data are available and clinical pharmacology information on the drug is scarce. PATIENTS AND METHODS Prospective population pharmacokinetic (PK) cohort study in children 2-12 years old with Chagas disease treated with oral benznidazole 5-8 mg/kg/day BID for 60 days. (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00699387). RESULTS Forty children were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 7.3 years. A total of 117 samples were obtained from 38 patients for PK analysis. A one compartment model best fit the data. Weight-corrected clearance rate (CL/F) showed a good correlation with age, with younger patients having a significantly higher CL/F than older children and adults. Simulated median steady-state benznidazole concentrations, based on model parameters, were lower for children in our study than for adults and lowest for children under 7 years of age. Treatment was efficacious in the 37 patients who completed the treatment course, and well tolerated, with few, and mild, adverse drug reactions (ADRs). DISCUSSION Observed benznidazole plasma concentrations in children were markedly lower than those previously reported in adults (treated with comparable mg/kg doses), possibly due to a higher CL/F in smaller children. These lower blood concentrations were nevertheless associated to a high therapeutic response in our cohort. Unlike adults, children have few adverse reactions to the drug, suggesting that there may be a direct correlation between drug concentrations and incidence of ADRs. Our results suggest that studies with lower doses in adults may be warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00699387.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Altcheh
- Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Moscatelli
- Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guido Mastrantonio
- Área de Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Samanta Moroni
- Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Norberto Giglio
- Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Elena Marson
- Área de Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Griselda Ballering
- Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Margarita Bisio
- Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gideon Koren
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Facundo García-Bournissen
- Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Marsón ME, Dana DD, Altcheh J, García-Bournissen F, Mastrantonio G. Development of UV/HPLC methods for quantitative analysis of benznidazole in human plasma and urine for application in pediatric clinical studies. J Clin Lab Anal 2014; 27:384-90. [PMID: 24038224 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.21615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chagas disease constitutes a major public health problem in Latin America. Correctly designed pharmacokinetic, safety, and bioequivalence studies are desirable in order to fill the knowledge gaps that presently exist on available drugs. It is necessary to develop accurate, simple, reproducible, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/UV methods for the quantization of benznidazole (BNZ) in human plasma and urine for clinical applications, specially in pediatric patients. METHODS Quantization of BNZ in human plasma involved freeze-drying and re-suspension in organic solvent followed by reverse phase HPLC with UV detection. Analysis of BNZ in urine involved liquid/liquid extraction followed by reverse phase HPLC with UV detection. RESULTS Limits of quantization (LOQ) were 0.32 μg/ml for plasma and 5.2 μg/ml for urine. No metabolite interferences were showed in both methods. CONCLUSION The LOQ of methods seems appropriate in pediatric clinical contexts. Both procedures were applied with good results, to the quantization of BNZ in plasma and urine of patients treated for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Elena Marsón
- Área de Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Servicios a la Industria y al Sistema Científico (LaSeISiC), Universidad Nacional de La Plata / Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Identification of N-benzylacetamide as a major component of human plasmatic metabolic profiling of benznidazole. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2014; 40:209-17. [DOI: 10.1007/s13318-014-0195-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Fabrizio MC, Schweigmann NJ, Bartoloni NJ. Modelling American trypanosomiasis in an endemic zone: application to the initial spread of household infection in the Argentine Chaco. Zoonoses Public Health 2014; 61:545-59. [PMID: 24528489 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The complex dynamics of Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Chagas disease) involves different actors and multiple transmission routes. Based on the information currently available, here, we propose a new and more comprehensive model to better understand the dynamics of the infection. This mathematical deterministic model was formulated considering: (i) the three clinical forms in humans: acute, chronic indeterminate and chronic with determinate pathology, (ii) the three main modes of transmission in the human population: vector-borne, congenital and transfusional, (iii) populations of triatomines and dogs as the main domestic reservoirs of T. cruzi and (iv) open populations. A numerical simulation was also performed to estimate the initial spread of the infection in a typical rural household in the endemic zone of the Argentine Gran Chaco. We also analysed the incidence of infected individuals corresponding to each of the three species (humans/triatomines/dogs) over times until the appearance of the first case in the other species. The model predicts that, in the absence of control measures, a few infected individuals are sufficient for the establishment and dispersion of the infection in all the inhabitants of the household. The model proposed and the results obtained allow describing the consequences of the presence of infected individuals in any of the three species considered in the dynamics and the output of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Fabrizio
- Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Información, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Oliveira I, Torrico F, Muñoz J, Gascon J. Congenital transmission of Chagas disease: a clinical approach. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 8:945-56. [DOI: 10.1586/eri.10.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Padró JM, Marsón ME, Mastrantonio GE, Altcheh J, García-Bournissen F, Reta M. Development of an ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method for the determination of nifurtimox and benznidazole in human plasma. Talanta 2013; 107:95-102. [PMID: 23598198 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2012.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Dispersive ionic liquid-liquid microextraction combined with liquid chromatography and UV detection was used for the determination of two antichagasic drugs in human plasma: nifurtimox and benznidazole. The effects of experimental parameters on extraction efficiency-the type and volume of ionic liquid and disperser solvent, pH, nature and concentration of salt, and the time for centrifugation and extraction-were investigated and optimized. Matrix effects were detected and thus the standard addition method was used for quantification. This microextraction procedure yielded significant improvements over those previously reported in the literature and has several advantages, including high inter-day reproducibility (relative standard deviation=1.02% and 3.66% for nifurtimox and benznidazole, respectively), extremely low detection limits (15.7 ng mL(-1) and 26.5 ng mL(-1) for nifurtimox and benznidazole, respectively), and minimal amounts of sample and extraction solvent required. Recoveries were high (98.0% and 79.8% for nifurtimox and benznidazole, respectively). The proposed methodology offers the advantage of highly satisfactory performance in addition to being inexpensive, simple, and fast in the extraction and preconcentration of these antichagasic drugs from human-plasma samples, with these characteristics being consistent with the practicability requirements in current clinical research or within the context of therapeutic monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Padró
- Laboratorio de Separaciones Analíticas, División Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNLP, Argentina
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Altcheh J, Moscatelli G, Moroni S, Garcia-Bournissen F, Freilij H. Adverse events after the use of benznidazole in infants and children with Chagas disease. Pediatrics 2011; 127:e212-8. [PMID: 21173000 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-1172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is caused by infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. In adults, treatment with benznidazole is associated with a high incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). However, in infants and children, treatment with benznidazole seems associated with a lower incidence and decreased severity of ADRs, but these effects have not been clearly characterized. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe ADRs observed in infants and children treated with benznidazole. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of infants and children in Argentina with Chagas disease treated with benznidazole. RESULTS A total of 107 infants and children diagnosed with asymptomatic Chagas disease (mean age: 6.9 years) were enrolled in the study. Sixty-two events (in 44 children) were considered benznidazole related. Mean ADR duration was 8.2 days. ADRs were mild (80.6%), moderate (16%), or severe (3.2%). Most (77.3%) ADRs were in children older than 7 years. Skin was the organ with the highest incidence of ADRs (21%), followed by the central nervous system (9%) and the gastrointestinal tract (8.5%). Also, the ADR rate was lower in infants and toddlers compared with older children (18% vs 53%) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with benznidazole was well tolerated in children. Most ADRs were mild and did not require treatment suspension. A strong association was observed between ADR incidence and patient age, and most ADRs occurred in children older than 7 years. We believe that anxiety over potential severe ADRs in children with Chagas disease is not justified and should not be an obstacle to using benznidazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Altcheh
- Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños R. Gutierrez, Gallo 1330, Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina.
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Sosa-Estani S, Viotti R, Segura EL. Therapy, diagnosis and prognosis of chronic Chagas disease: insight gained in Argentina. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2010; 104 Suppl 1:167-80. [PMID: 19753472 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000900023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2009] [Accepted: 06/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to describe research findings regarding chronic Chagas disease in Argentina that have changed the standards of care for patients with Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Indirect techniques (serological tests) are still the main tools for the primary diagnosis of infection in the chronic phase, but polymerase chain reaction has been shown to be promising. The prognosis of patients with heart failure or advanced stages of chagasic cardiomyopathy is poor, but a timely diagnosis during the initial stages of the disease would allow for prescription of appropriate therapies to offer a better quality of life. Treatment of T. cruzi infection is beneficial as secondary prevention to successfully cure the infection or to delay, reduce or prevent the progression to disease and as primary disease prevention by breaking the chain of transmission. Current recommendations have placed the bulk of the diagnostic and treatment responsibility on the Primary Health Care System. Overall, the current research priorities with respect to Chagas disease should be targeted towards (i) the production of new drugs that would provide a shorter treatment course with fewer side effects; (ii) the development of new tools to confirm cure after a full course of treatment during the chronic phase and (iii) biomarkers to identify patients with a high risk of developing diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación de Endemo-epidemias, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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