The usefulness of a Trypanosoma cruzi specific PCR test to monitor treatment in pediatric Chagas disease

BURGOS JM; ALTCHEH J; BISIO M; FREILIJ H; LEVIN MJ; SCHIJMAN AG

Villa Carlos Paz - Córdoba - Argentina

Congreso; XXVII A Anual meeting de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones en Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular; 2001

Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones en Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular (SAIB)

AIMS: To follow up by PCR and conventional diagnosis the outcome of pediatric patients (pts) with Chagas disease who received parasitological treatment (Tmt). METHODS: The study included 30 pts who presented T. cruzi DNA in blood by PCR at time of diagnosis (T0) and were treated with Nifurtimox (5 mg/kg/day) during 60 days. Pts were classified in Group A: acute Congenital Chagas disease (1-6 months of age) and Group B: indeterminate chronic Chagas disease (1-15 years old). PCR was carried out after one mnth of tmt (T1) in Group A, at the end of tmt (T2), three mnths (T3) after tmt (T3) and one year after tmt (T4) in both groups. RESULTS: Group A: Out of 7 PCR and serology positive pts at TO, 3 remained PCR positive at T1 and 4 remained seropositive. At T2, all seven cases were PCR negative whereas one remained seropositive. At T4, all pts were negative by both tests. Group B: Out of 23 PCR and seropositive pts at TO, 19 turned into PCR negative at T2, other two at T3; and one remained PCR positive even at T4. However, serology persisted positive in all cases still at T4. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that PCR may bean early marker for parasitological cure, in particular in indeterminate  Chagas disease.