SynthesisPLoS neglected tropical diseases2026
The epidemiology and clinical features of HIV and Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) co-infection: A systematic review and individual patient data analysis.
Synthesis in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Screening for Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Chagas disease) in the Latin American population living with HIV in London.HIV medicine · 2026Article
- Bridging the Nervous-Endocrine System and Immune Response, in Human Chagas Disease Pathology.Neuroimmunomodulation · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNarrative descriptions of HIV and Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, co-infection exist in the literature but the breadth and depth of the data underlying these descriptions has not been previously thoroughly scrutinised and reactivation is poorly understood. The aim of this systematic review was to identify, synthesise and analyse the published literature on the epidemiology and clinical features of T. cruzi and HIV co-infection.
methodsA systematic review of published literature on HIV and T. cruzi co-infection was conducted. Six international databases were searched: Medline, Embase, Global Health, Global Index Medicus (including LILACS, AIM, IMEMR, IMSEAR & WPRIM), Web of Science and Scopus. Articles reporting on HIV and T. cruzi co-infection, as defined by the authors, with no restrictions on study type, language or date of publication or reporting were included.
results152 articles (62% case reports or series) were included, of which 110 reported individual patient data on 352 individuals with HIV and T. cruzi co-infection. Reported prevalence of co-infection varied by region and setting of screening, ranging from 0.2% to 5%. 86% of reactivations were reported in individuals with CD4 < 200 cells/mm3. CNS reactivation, typically presenting with meningoencephalitis and/or central nervous system (CNS) lesions, accounted for 85% of all published cases of reactivation. Myocarditis (accounting for 10% published reactivation cases) was less well characterised. Mortality of all reactivation cases was 67% (79% in those with CNS reactivation).
conclusionT. cruzi reactivation mainly affects those with untreated HIV and lower CD4 counts. CNS reactivation is the most common clinical picture and confers high mortality. Prompt recognition of reactivation and immediate initiation of trypanocidal therapy (with benznidazole or nifurtimox) is recommended. Increased education and better awareness of the risks of co-infection are needed, as is systematic screening of individuals at-risk.
trial registrationProspero CRD42020216125.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.