Nifurtimox-Eflornithine Combination Therapy for Second-Stage Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis: Médecins Sans Frontières Experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Since 2009, nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) has raised great hopes for the treatment of second-stage human African trypanosomiasis. Data from the first 18 months of NECT use in Médecins Sans Frontières programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo confirm its good safety profile, especially among childre

Nifurtimox-Eflornithine Combination Therapy for Second-stage Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis: Médecins Sans Frontières experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

To access this article, click on "Additional Links"Existing diagnostic and treatment tools for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are limited. The recent development of nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) has brought new hopes for patients in the second stage. While NECT has been rolled out in most endemic countries, safety data are scarce and derive only from clinical trials. The World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates a pharmacovigilance program to collect additional data on NECT safety and efficacy. We report here the results of 18 months of experience of NECT use in treatment centers run by Médecins Sans Frontières in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)