Hunter, C. A., Jennings, F. W., Adams, J. H., Murray, M. and Kennedy, P.G.E. (1992) Subcurative chemotherapy and fatal post-treatment reactive encephalopathies in African trypanosomiasis. Lancet, 339(8799), pp. 956-958. (doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)91531-C)
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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(92)91531-C
Abstract
The treatment of late-stage African sleeping sickness in man is often complicated by a post-treatment reactive encephalopathy. The basis of this pathological reaction was investigated in a mouse model of African trypanosomiasis. Subcurative treatment with diminazene aceturate, which did not clear parasites from the central nervous system, resulted in a post-treatment meningoencephalitis similar to that seen in man. By contrast, a curative regimen of melaminylthioarsenite and 5-nitroimidazole, which cleared parasites from the central nervous system, did not cause any pathological reaction in the mice. This result indicates that subcurative treatment leads to the development of the post-treatment encephalopathy. Evidence that this may also be the case in man was provided by the detection of trypanosome DNA with the polymerase chain reaction in the brains of 9 patients who had died as the result of a post-treatment reaction. Our findings suggest that more aggressive treatment regimens, which ensure the elimination of trypanosomes from the central nervous system, may prevent post-treatment reactions in patients.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | Originally published as Volume 1, Issue 8799 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Murray, Professor Maxwell and Kennedy, Professor Peter |
Authors: | Hunter, C. A., Jennings, F. W., Adams, J. H., Murray, M., and Kennedy, P.G.E. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity |
Journal Name: | Lancet |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
ISSN: | 0140-6736 |
ISSN (Online): | 1474-547X |
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