Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
13:55
Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
Published on: January 27, 2019
Later evolution after cardiac transplantation in Chagas' disease
A I Fiorelli1, N A G Stolf, R Honorato
1Heart Institute of Medicine, School of Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. fiorelliai@uol.com.br
Transplantation Proceedings
|September 27, 2005
Summary
Reducing immunosuppression in cardiac transplant patients with Chagas' disease significantly lowered disease reactivation and neoplasms. Early diagnosis and treatment of reactivation prevented myocardial damage, improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Chagas' disease poses unique challenges in cardiac transplantation.
- Reactivation of Chagas' disease post-transplant is a significant concern.
- Optimizing immunosuppression is crucial for managing Chagas' disease in transplant recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report accumulated experience with cardiac transplantation in Chagas' disease.
- To emphasize the impact of immunosuppression on disease reactivation and mortality.
- To evaluate outcomes related to immunosuppression strategies and disease management.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 59 patients undergoing cardiac transplantation for Chagas' disease.
- Inclusion of patients meeting established recipient selection criteria.
- Monitoring for Chagas' disease reactivation through parasitic identification and serological exams.
Main Results:
- Reduced immunosuppressant doses correlated with improved patient outcomes.
- Decreasing immunosuppression significantly decreased Chagas' disease reactivation.
- Mortality included infections, allograft dysfunction, rejection, neoplasms, and disease reactivation.
Conclusions:
- Early diagnosis and treatment of Chagas' disease reactivation prevent myocardial sequelae.
- Lowering immunosuppression effectively reduces disease reactivation and neoplasm incidence.
- Combined transplantation is feasible with careful immunosuppressant management.
Related Concept Videos
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...
01:30Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
01:29Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...