Elevated IL-17 levels and echocardiographic signs of preserved myocardial function in benznidazole-treated individuals with chronic Chagas' disease.

Highlights • The benznidazole (Bz) treatment for chronic Chagas' disease (CCD) may improve immune response and myocardial function. • Higher levels of IL-17 were observed in treated CCD patients, specially after adjustment for time of disease and NYHA class. • The treated group of patients exhibited better parameters of myocardial function by tissue Doppler than the untreated group. Abstract Background The immunological and clinical impact of trypanocidal treatment in chronic Chagas' disease (CCD) is unclear. Methodology and findings Several cytokines were measured in plasma of 66 patients with CCD. Thirty-three patients had been previously treated with benznidazole and 33 had never been treated. The treated group exhibited higher levels of IL-17 (median 142.45 × 1.22 pg/ml, P = 0.025), which was the only one significantly associated with Bz treatment, especially after adjusting for time of disease and NYHA class (P = 0.024; OR 1.006, 95% CI 1.001-1.010). Compared to untreated patients, the treated group exhibited higher median values of mitral annular E' lateral (13.0 × 10.0 cm/s, P = 0.038), S' infero-lateral (8.9 × 7.6 cm/s, P = 0.013), S' septal (8.5 × 7.4 cm/s, P = 0.034), mean S' (9.0 × 7.9 cm/s, P = 0.013) and tricuspid annular S' (13.3 × 11.1 cm/s, P = 0.001) and lower values of E/E' septal (7.2 × 9.5 cm/s, P = 0.049). After adjustment for time of disease and NYHA class, S' infero-lateral (P = 0.031), mean S' (P = 0.049) and S' tricuspid (P = 0.024) persisted as significantly associated with treatment. Conclusion The present findings suggest that the group of CCD patients treated with Bz displayed increased plasma levels of IL-17 and preserved myocardial function, reinforcing the idea that Bz treatment may be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]