Chagas disease in the immunocompromised host

Abstract

Purpose of review To highlight recent advances in our understanding of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in immunocompromised individuals, a condition that is increasingly recognized as populations shift and use of immunosuppressive medications becomes more commonplace. Recent findings Chagas disease screening programs should include people at risk for both Chagas disease and immunocompromise, e.g. people who have resided for ≥6 months in endemic Latin America who have an immunocompromising condition such as HIV or who are planned to start an immunosuppressive medication regimen. The goal of identifying such individuals is to allow management strategies that will reduce their risk of T. cruzi reactivation disease. For people with HIV-T. cruzi coinfection, strict adherence to antiretroviral therapy is important and antitrypanosomal treatment is urgent in the setting of symptomatic reactivation. People at risk for T. cruzi reactivation due to immunosuppression caused by advanced hematologic conditions or postsolid organ transplantation should be monitored via T. cruzi qPCR and treated with preemptive antitrypanosomal therapy if rising parasite load on serial specimens indicates reactivation. Reduction of the immunosuppressive regimen, if possible, is important. Summary Chronic Chagas disease can lead to severe disease in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with advanced HIV (CD4+ < 200 cells/mm3) or peri-transplantation.