Safety Profile of Benznidazole in the Treatment of Chronic Chagas Disease: Experience of a Referral Centre and Systematic Literature Review with Meta-Analysis

Clara Crespillo-Andújar, Emmanuele Venanzi-Rullo, Rogelio López-Vélez, Begoña Monge-Maillo, Francesca Norman, Ana López-Polín and José A. Pérez-Molina ()
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Clara Crespillo-Andújar: Hospital Universitario La Paz-Carlos III, IdiPAZ
Emmanuele Venanzi-Rullo: University of Messina, Polyclinic “G. Martino”
Rogelio López-Vélez: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS
Begoña Monge-Maillo: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS
Francesca Norman: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS
Ana López-Polín: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS
José A. Pérez-Molina: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS

Drug Safety, 2018, vol. 41, issue 11, No 5, 1035-1048

Abstract: Abstract Introduction Benznidazole is the preferred drug for treatment of Chagas disease. However, it is toxic and of limited value in chronic infection. Objective We aimed to estimate the rates of and factors related to adverse reactions (ARs) to benznidazole and treatment discontinuations (TDs). Methods A meta-analysis was performed using an electronic search of the published literature with no language restrictions until June 2017. Prospective studies were included of chronically infected patients in which at least one treatment arm included benznidazole. Data were added from a prospective cohort of patients with Chagas disease at our centre (January 2007–June 2017). Weighted rates of ARs and TDs were estimated, and potentially related factors were analysed. Results Some 413 studies were found, from which we chose 42 (nine clinical trials and 33 observational studies, including ours), comprising data for 7822 patients. The weighted rate of ARs to benznidazole was 44.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 37.2–51.2). ARs were more frequent in adults than in children (51.6 vs. 24.5%), with the most common being skin reactions (34%), gastrointestinal complaints (12.6%) and neurological symptoms (11.5%). Grade 4 ARs were recorded in 3% of cases. The weighted rate of TDs was 11.4% (95% CI 8.5–14.5); TDs were more frequent in adults than in children (14.2 vs. 3.8%). In our cohort, only female sex was related to an increased rate of ARs but not to TDs. Conclusion Benznidazole had a poor tolerability profile, with a high incidence of TDs, especially in adult patients and women. Optimised dosing schedules and/or new drugs are urgently needed.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s40264-018-0696-5

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