Key result
Benznidazole treatment during early pregnancy for Chagas disease shows no maternal complications or teratogenic effects.
Why the study?
Chagas disease has become a global public health problem, with significant focus on pregnant women who can transmit the disease to their offspring.
Does benznidazole exposure during early pregnancy cause maternal health problems or teratogenic effects in newborns in women with Chagas disease?
Case Report (n=4)
No
Does benznidazole exposure during early pregnancy cause maternal health problems or teratogenic effects in newborns in women with Chagas disease?
In a small case series of four women, inadvertent benznidazole exposure during early pregnancy did not result in maternal complications or teratogenic effects.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Hypothesis-generating for benznidazole safety in early pregnancy; larger prospective studies needed before clinical adoption in Chagas disease.
In recent decades and because of migration, Chagas disease has become a global public health problem. A significant focus has been placed on pregnant women who can transmit the disease to their offspring. Here, we report four cases of women who did not know that they were pregnant while they were being treated with benznidazole. A diagnosis was established according to serology and Trypanosoma cruzi polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–standardized tests. Treatment was discontinued when pregnancy was confirmed, and a thorough follow-up was carried out. Although each case was different, none of the mothers developed health problems during pregnancy, and their newborns were delivered without any teratogenic effects.
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Vázquez et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Chagas disease in pregnancy (n=4). Benznidazole was evaluated on Maternal health problems during pregnancy and teratogenic effects in newborns. Benznidazole treatment during early pregnancy in four women with Chagas disease resulted in no maternal health problems and no teratogenic effects in their newborns.
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