[Electroencephalographic study of trypanosomes in meningoencephalitic stage of human African trypanosomiasis from Trypanosoma brucei gambiense before and after treatment with DL-alphadifluoromethyl- ornithine hydrochloride monohydrate (DFMO)].

The aim of the study was to assess effects of DFMO (an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis) on waking electroencephalogram (EEG) of 25 patients at meningoencephalitic stage of human african gambiense trypanosomiasis (HAT), six of whom having been previously treated with and considered refractory to Melarsoprol. DFMO was administered intravenously at dose of 400 mg/kg/day for 14 days, followed by oral treatment at dose of 300 mg/kg/day for 21 days. EEG data were performed before, then 15 days after the end of the therapy. Initially tracings presented diversified abnormalities which have been classified into four groups: intermittent delta waves/generalised delta waves/low voltage background/paroxistic activities. Control recordings showed an improvement, but as for Melarsoprol tracings not returned completely to normal patterns. In most of the patients therapy was associated with clinical disorders improvement and in all but one with disappearance of trypanosomes. Marked amelioration in recordings of the patient who presented trypanosomes in LCR samples, suggest he was responsive to the treatment and perhaps therapy did necessitate continuation? The use of EEG investigation during treatments as a supervision way of patients with trypanosomiasis is discussed.