Betametasona e extrato aquoso de Arctium lappa no tratamento da angiostrongilíase

Abstract

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 41(6):654-657, nov-dez, 2008 ARTIGO/ARTICLEO Angiostrongylus costaricensis é um parasita que habita os ramos da artéria mesentérica de roedores silvestres e pode infectar o homem produzindo uma doença conhecida por angiostrongilíase abdominal 1 3 4 .Não existe tratamento específico capaz de erradicar o parasita. Normalmente, são usados fármacos antiinflamatórios para aliviar os sintomas 12 , apesar de não ter sido estabelecido até o momento, a eficácia desta conduta. O emprego de terapia antihelmíntica, por outro lado, não é recomendado por ineficácia em matar os vermes e em função da possibilidade de determinar migração errática dos vermes 8 10 . Antiinflamatórios naturais, como o extrato aquoso de Arctium lappa, têm mostrado ABSTRACTAngiostrongylus costaricensis is a parasite that causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis in humans. The treatment for it includes the use of antiinflammatory drugs, despite the lack of studies to justify this approach. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of betamethasone and Arctium lappa on the evolution of intestinal lesions induced by this parasite. Adult male Swiss mice were used, distributed into four groups: infected and treated with betamethasone; infected and treated with Arctium lappa; infected and not treated; and control group. The treatments were started on the 15 th day after infection and continued for 15 days. The presence of eosinophilic infiltration and granuloma was evaluated (1-mild; 2-moderate; 3-severe). Betamethasone allowed the lesions to evolve into more severe forms, while the extract did not interfere with disease progression. The substances applied were ineffective for protection against the lesions induced by Angiostrongylus costaricensis in mice. These findings discourage the use of betamethasone and Arctium lappa for humans affected by abdominal angiostrongyliasis.

Outcomes in mice with abdominal angiostrongyliasis treated with enoxaparin

“…Several studies have tested pharmacological approaches, including antihelmintics (Mentz and Graeff-Teixeira 2003;Morera and Bontempo 1985), oviposition-blocking agents (Bohrer et al 2007), and anti-inflammatory drugs (Fante et al 2008), although with disappointing results. Theoretically, the use of antithrombotic agents such as enoxaparin might be beneficial in preventing mesenteric thrombosis as observed in patients with AA.…”

Proteolytic activity in the adult and larval stages of the human roundworm parasite Angiostrongylus costaricensis

“…A published method based on a polymerase chain reaction may eventually improve our ability to diagnose the disease, although the results are still preliminary . Moreover, many studies have assessed different types of therapies with limited success, such as treatment with anthelmintic drugs (Morera & Bontempo 1985, Mentz & Graeff-Teixeira 2003, Bohrer Mentz et al 2007), anti-inflammatory drugs (Fante et al 2008) and antithrombotic agents (Rodriguez et al 2011). The present consensus is that anthelmintic drug administration is not recommended given that it usually induces the erratic migration of worms instead of killing them (Morera & Bontempo 1985).…”

Activity profiling of peptidases in Angiostrongylus costaricensis first-stage larvae and adult worms

“…Furthermore, there is no specific and/or effective pharmacological treatment for this disease. Previous studies have shown that anthelminthics [ 12 – 16 ], antithrombotic drugs [ 17 ] and anti-inflammatory agents [ 18 ] are not effective against the nematode parasite. Therefore, the investigation of potential new diagnosis and/or treatment targets for AA is urgently required.…”