Evaluate if benznidazole, an antiparasite drug, given at a dose calculated as 5mg/kg/day for 60 days, now administered as a fixed daily dose of 300mg during 40 to 80 days of treatment - period adjusted according to the patient's body weight to a total minimum dose of 12g (corresponding to 40kg) and a total maximum dose of 24g (corresponding to 80kg) - reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with Chronic Chagas' Cardiomyopathy (CCC).
The BENEFIT study is being conducted by the Population Health Research Institute (in Hamilton, Canada) and the Institute Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia (Sao Paulo, Brazil) together with a Steering Committee, and an independent Safety Monitoring Board.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Consenting patients (between 18 and 75 years of age) with serological evidence of Chagas infection (any combination of 2 positive tests) and that have one or more of the following:
* Abnormal electrocardiogram with at least two components (complete RBBB or LBBB; left anterior or posterior fascicular block; ventricular premature beat; first degree atrioventricular \[AV\] block; Mobitz type I AV block; sinus bradycardia; primary ST-T changes; abnormal Q waves; low voltage QRS; or atrial fibrillation);
* Abnormal ECG (Mobitz type II, advanced or third degree AV block);
* Increased cardiothoracic ratio (\> 0.50);
* Complex ventricular arrythmias on 24 hour ambulatory ECG monitoring;
* Evidence of regional wall motion abnormality or reduced global left ventricular systolic function or increased left ventricular and diastolic diameter on 2D-Echo.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients will be excluded if having:
* NYHA heart failure class IV or decompensated heart failure
* Evidence of concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) or other etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy
* Previous treatment with antitrypanosomal agents or an accepted indication for antiparasitic therapy
* Inability to comply with follow-up visits
* History of severe alcohol abuse within 2 years
* Known chronic renal or hepatic insufficiency or hepatic insufficiency
* Pregnancy or breast feeding
* Megaesophagus with swallowing impairment
* Other severe disease significantly curtailing life expectancy
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Composite of First of cardiovascular events: Death, Resuscitated Cardiac Arrest, Sustained VentricularTachycardia, New/worsening Heart Failure, New Pacemaker/ICD, Stroke/TIA or other Embolic Events, Cardiac Transplant.
Timeframe: through study completion, an average of 5 years