Characterization of adverse reactions to benznidazole in patients with Chagas disease in the Federal District, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Maria Katarine Costa Lucas Gontijo, Hilda Maria Benevides da Silva de Arruda, Elza Ferreira Noronha, Maria Inês de Toledo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2020
• Subjects: Chagas disease; Benznidazole; Drug-related side effects; Adverse reactions; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0150-2019; https://doaj.org/article/b008dce33aa3473d957c8c8f7a2ddbca

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Benznidazole is used for treating Chagas disease (CD). This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of benznidazole at a public hospital in Brazil’s Federal District. METHODS: Medical records were analyzed and ADRs were categorized by type, intensity, seriousness, and causality. RESULTS: Of the 62 patients who started benznidazole treatment for CD, 41 (66%) presented with 105 ADRs; 23 (37%) discontinued the treatment. Most reactions were classified as probable (81%), severe (63%), serious (67%), and dose-dependent (56%). CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of ADRs because of treatment withdrawal revealed the need for safer alternatives for CD treatment.