by Kuemmerle A, Schmid C, Bernhard S, Kande V, Mutombo W, Ilunga M, Lumpungu I, Mutanda S, Nganzobo P, Ngolo Tete D, Kisala M, Burri C, Blesson S, Valverde Mordt O. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021; 15(11): e0009903. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009903
Summary: Nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) for the treatment of second stage gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) was added to the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List in 2009. The authors present the effectiveness results of a study of NECT use in the field after the 24-month follow-up visit. They found that NECT could be implemented under field conditions and in remote areas, with the necessary logistical support and staff training for treatment administration. Adverse events, although very frequent, were considered acceptable given the severity of the disease. The results confirmed the effectiveness of NECT in a broad spectrum of second stage gambiense sleeping sickness patients, including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and patients previously treated for sleeping sickness.
