Mixed T Helper1/T Helper2/T Cytotoxic Profile in Subjects with Chronic Chagas Disease with Hypersensitivity Reactions to Benznidazole.

Dermatitis is the most common adverse event during treatment with benznidazole in chronic Chagas disease and is probably mediated by T cells. A set of molecules representative of the different type IV hypersensitivity reactions was evaluated in the circulation and skin biopsies of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected subjects presenting dermatitis during benznidazole administration. Through cytometric bead assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay capture techniques, the serum levels of cytokines, chemokines, proapoptotic molecules, and mediators of the activation and migration of eosinophils and T cells were measured in subjects infected with Trypanosoma cruzi who exhibited skin adverse events ( = 22) and compared with those without adverse events ( = 37) during benznidazole therapy.

Reduced Trypanosoma cruzi-specific humoral response and enhanced T cell immunity after treatment interruption with benznidazole in chronic Chagas disease.

Background: Interruption of benznidazole therapy due to the appearance of adverse effects, which is presumed to lead to treatment failure, is a major drawback in the treatment of chronic Chagas disease.

Methods: Trypanosoma cruzi-specific humoral and T cell responses, T cell phenotype and parasite load were measured to compare the outcome in 33 subjects with chronic Chagas disease treated with an incomplete benznidazole regimen and 58 subjects treated with the complete regimen, during a median follow-up period of 48 months.

Results: Both treatment regimens induced a reduction in the T.

The Significance of Discordant Serology in Chagas Disease: Enhanced T-Cell Immunity to in Serodiscordant Subjects.

Background: Subjects are considered infected with when tested positive by at least two out of three serological tests, whereas a positive result in only one of up to three tests is termed "serodiscordant" (SD). Assessment of parasite-specific T-cell responses may help discriminate the uninfected from infected individuals among SD subjects.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SD and seropositive (SP) subjects, who were born in areas endemic for infection but living in Buenos Aires city, Argentina, at the time of the study, and seronegative unexposed subjects were included for analysis.

Treatment Success in Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Is Predicted by Early Changes in Serially Monitored Parasite-Specific T and B Cell Responses.

Background: Chagas disease is the highest impact parasitic disease in Latin America. We have proposed that changes in Trypanosoma cruzi-specific immune responses might serve as surrogate indicators of treatment success. Herein, we addressed in a long-term follow-up study whether cure achieved after treatment can be predicted by changes in non-conventional indexes of anti-parasite serological and T cell activities.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of 107 adult patients with chronic Chagas disease and parasitological cure criteria.

Background: The cure in adult patients with chronic Chagas disease and the relationship between parasitological and clinical evolution is still under debate. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical, epidemiological and progression features of the disease in a patient population who became serologically negative either spontaneously or post-etiological treatment.

Methods: We included 107 patients over 20 years old with three different confirmed reactive anti-Trypanosoma cruzi serologic tests on admission, and a minimum of two years of follow-up.

Allopurinol reduces antigen-specific and polyclonal activation of human T cells.

Allopurinol is the most popular commercially available xanthine oxidase inhibitor and it is widely used for treatment of symptomatic hyperuricaemia, or gout. Although, several anti-inflammatory actions of allopurinol have been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro, there have been few studies on the action of allopurinol on T cells. In the current study, we have assessed the effect of allopurinol on antigen-specific and mitogen-driven activation and cytokine production in human T cells.

The impact of socioeconomic conditions on chronic Chagas disease progression.

Introduction And Objectives: The extent to which a patient's socioeconomic conditions determine the persistence or control of chronic Chagas disease has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of socioeconomic conditions on clinical and serologic measures of disease progression.

Methods: Data on the following socioeconomic variables were obtained by questioning as part of medical history taking at admission: birth in a rural area, time of residence in endemic and urban areas (in years), overcrowding index (i.