ABSTRACT
Resumo Fundamento A Doença de Chagas (DC) representa um grave problema de saúde pública na América Latina. O Benznidazol (BNZ) é utilizado para o tratamento DC e, apesar do seu amplo uso, poucas informações estão disponíveis sobre sua toxicidade e mecanismos das Reações Adversas ao Medicamento (RAM). Objetivos Identificar e classificar as reações adversas clínicas e laboratoriais ocasionadas pelo uso do BNZ quanto à sua causalidade e gravidade. Métodos Estudo de coorte prospectivo realizado no período de janeiro de 2018 a dezembro de 2021. O acompanhamento do tratamento incluiu consultas e análises laboratoriais antes, 30 e 60 dias após o início do tratamento. As RAM foram classificadas quanto à causalidade e gravidade. Na análise estatística o nível de significância adotado foi p<0,05. Resultados Participaram do estudo 40 pacientes com DC crônica, observou-se alta prevalência de RAM com um total de 161 em 30 (90%) pacientes. Destas, 104 (64,6%) foram classificadas como possíveis e 57 (35,4%) como prováveis. As reações foram classificadas em moderadas e leves. Dos 40 pacientes, nove (22,5%) suspenderam o tratamento. As RAM associadas à interrupção e intervenções foram as que afetaram o sistema dermatológico, sistema nervoso central e periférico ou que culminaram em ageusia. Após 30 dias de tratamento, alterações hematológicas e bioquímicas leves foram observadas como linfopenia. Conclusão Apesar do elevado percentual de RAM, muitos pacientes foram capazes de completar o tratamento, o que se atribui ao êxito da estratégia de acompanhamento com intervenções de tratamento sintomático juntamente ao aconselhamento, levando à compreensão da sintomatologia e manutenção do tratamento.
Abstract Background Chagas disease (CD) is a serious public health problem in Latin America. Benznidazole (BNZ) is used for the treatment of CD and, despite its wide use, little information is available about its toxicity and mechanisms of adverse drug reactions (ADR). Objectives To identify and classify clinical and laboratory adverse reactions caused by BNZ in terms of causality and severity. Methods Prospective cohort study from January 2018 to December 2021. Treatment follow-up included visits and biochemical tests (complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests) before, during and after treatment. ADR were classified according to causality and severity. In the statistical analysis, the significance level was set at p<0.05. Results Forty patients with chronic CD were included. A high prevalence of ADR was observed 161 ADR in 30 patients [90%]; of these, 104 (64.6%) were classified as possible and 57 (35.4%) as probable. The ADR were classified as moderate and mild. Of the 40 patients, nine (22.5%) discontinued treatment. ADR associated with treatment discontinuation and interventions were those that affected the dermatological system, central and peripheral nervous system and sense organs such as ageusia. Mild hematological and biochemical changes such as lymphopenia were observed after 30 days of treatment. Conclusion Many patients were able to complete the treatment even with ADR, which can be attributed to the successful follow-up strategy with symptomatic treatment and counseling, leading to patient's awareness of symptoms and treatment adherence.
ABSTRACT
The Pharmaceutical Care Service of the Chagas Disease Research Laboratory (LPDC), in the State of Ceará, Brazil, treats patients with Chagas disease (CD), characterized as a chronic, neglected disease that requires full patient follow-up. Objective: determine the socioeconomic and demographic profile of patients with CD treated at the LPDC. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, in which 507 patients were treated from January 2007 to May 2016. The variables collected were gender, age, place of birth, schooling, family income, type of health care, occupation, living conditions and habits. The profile of Trypanosoma cruzi infected individuals consisted of 51.1% males; mean age of 50.4 years; 26.6% were small farmers; 48.7% had not finished elementary school; 36.9% had a family income of one minimum wage; 77.7% did not have private health insurance and most of them came from rural areas. Regarding habits, 66.5% were nonsmokers and 70.0% were sedentary. Additionally, an improvement was noted in housing conditions, with most patients moving from wattle and daub huts, which were their first homes, to brick houses. We conclude that the analysis of the socioeconomic and demographic profile of patients treated at the LPDC showed that most of them come from a low socioeconomic population, where the demand for treatment has been occurring at a later age, further reinforcing the importance of the follow-up provided by the LPDC.