by Cafferata ML, Toscani MA, Althabe F, Belizán JM, Bergel E, Berrueta M, Capparelli EV, Ciganda Á, Danesi E, Dumonteil E, Gibbons L, Gulayin PE, Herrera C, Momper JD, Rossi S, Shaffer JG, Schijman AG, Sosa-Estani S, Stella CB, Klein K, Buekens P. Reproductive Health 2020;17(1):128. doi: 10.1186/s12978-020-00972-1
Summary: The level of parasitemia is a risk factor for congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Studies suggest that transmission does not occur in pregnant women who have previously been treated. Fear of side effects limits implementation of the Argentine guideline recommending treatment of T. cruzi seropositive women postpartum to prevent future congenital transmission. A short, low dose benznidazole treatment might reduce major side effects and increase compliance. The authors describe a protocol for a randomized controlled trial to compare the safety and efficacy of a short, low dose 30-day treatment (benznidazole 150 mg/day) with the standard 60-day treatment (benznidazole 300 mg/day) in not previously treated T. cruzi seropositive women with a live birth during the postpartum period in Argentina.
