[The use of difluoromethylornithine in congenital trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma brucei-gambiense].

The authors describe their experience with two cases of congenital Trypanosoma brucei-gambiense trypanosomiasis treated with orally administered difluoromethylornithine. The first case tolerated well his treatment (35 days of DFMO) and has probably been definitively cured. The second case, already in a desperate condition upon admission, died after only 4 days of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). The authors hypothesize that difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) may be the drug of choice for congenital trypanosomiasis because of its good absorption by the oral route, its ability to penetrate the cerebrospinal fluid especially in presence of meningeal inflammation and its activity against Trypanosoma brucei-gambiense.