In:
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 18, No. 2 ( 2024-2-26), p. e0011961-
Abstract:
Trypanosoma cruzi and HIV coinfection can evolve with depression of cellular immunity and increased parasitemia. We applied quantitative PCR (qPCR) as a marker for preemptive antiparasitic treatment to avoid fatal Chagas disease reactivation and analyzed the outcome of treated cases. Methodology This mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal study included 171 Chagas disease patients, 60 coinfected with HIV. Of these 60 patients, ten showed Chagas disease reactivation, confirmed by parasites identified in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or tissues, 12 exhibited high parasitemia without reactivation, and 38 had low parasitemia and no reactivation. Results We showed, for the first time, the success of the timely introduction of benznidazole in the non-reactivated group with high levels of parasitemia detected by qPCR and the absence of parasites in reactivated cases with at least 58 days of benznidazole. All HIV+ patients with or without reactivation had a 4.0–5.1 higher chance of having parasitemia than HIV seronegative cases. A positive correlation was found between parasites and viral loads. Remarkably, treated T . cruzi/ HIV-coinfected patients had 77.3% conversion from positive to negative parasitemia compared to 19.1% of untreated patients. Additionally, untreated patients showed ~13.6 times higher Odds Ratio of having positive parasitemia in the follow-up period compared with treated patients. Treated and untreated patients showed no differences regarding the evolution of Chagas disease. The main factors associated with all-cause mortality were higher parasitemia, lower CD4 counts/μL, higher viral load, and absence of antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion We recommend qPCR prospective monitoring of T . cruzi parasitemia in HIV+ coinfected patients and point out the value of pre-emptive therapy for those with high parasitemia. In parallel, early antiretroviral therapy introduction is advisable, aiming at viral load control, immune response restoration, and increasing survival. We also suggest an early antiparasitic treatment for all coinfected patients, followed by effectiveness analysis alongside antiretroviral therapy.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1935-2735
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.t004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.t005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.t006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011961.s004
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2024
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2429704-5
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