Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
13:55

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

Published on: January 27, 2019

Chagas cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke

Francisco Javier Carod-Artal1

  • 1Neurology Department, Sarah Hospital, SMHS, CEP 7330-150, Brasilia DF, Brazil. FJCarod@aol.com

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|December 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Chagas cardiomyopathy, caused by American trypanosomiasis, significantly increases ischemic stroke risk in South America. Key predictors include heart issues and female gender, highlighting its role in cardioembolic stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • American trypanosomiasis, or Chagas disease, is a primary cause of cardiomyopathy in South America.
  • Chagasic cardiomyopathy can lead to irreversible heart damage 10-20 years post-infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the relationship between Chagas cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke.
  • To identify predictors of ischemic stroke in patients with Chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review examining the link between Chagas cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke.
  • Identification of significant variables associated with stroke risk in chagasic patients.

Main Results:

  • Significant predictors for ischemic stroke in chagasic patients identified: apical aneurysm, cardiac insufficiency, electrocardiogram arrhythmia, and female gender.
  • Chagasic cardiomyopathy is a potential source of cardioembolic stroke.

Conclusions:

  • Chagasic cardiomyopathy must be considered in the differential diagnosis for stroke etiology.
  • Understanding these predictors can aid in stroke prevention and management in Chagas disease patients.

More Related Videos

Parasite Induced Genetically Driven Autoimmune Chagas Heart Disease in the Chicken Model09:23

Parasite Induced Genetically Driven Autoimmune Chagas Heart Disease in the Chicken Model

Published on: July 29, 2012

In Vitro Drug Screening Against All Life Cycle Stages of Trypanosoma cruzi Using Parasites Expressing β-galactosidase08:48

In Vitro Drug Screening Against All Life Cycle Stages of Trypanosoma cruzi Using Parasites Expressing β-galactosidase

Published on: November 5, 2021

Related Concept Videos

American Trypanosomiasis01:22

American 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...
Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview01:17

Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview

Ischemic heart disease occurs when the heart's blood supply dwindles, causing an ominous lack of oxygen and nutrients. This deficiency, stemming from reduced or obstructed blood flow, spells danger, leading to heart muscle damage and dysfunction.
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and narrowing...
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:15

Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Myocarditis I: Introduction01:21

Myocarditis I: Introduction

Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, which is the muscular layer of the heart.EtiologyMyocarditis has a diverse etiology, including a wide range of infectious and non-infectious causes:Infectious CausesViral: Common viruses include Coxsackie A and B, adenovirus, parvovirus B19, enteroviruses, and influenza A.Bacterial: Examples include infections caused by Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Mycoplasma species.Rickettsial: Infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever can result in...
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy 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,...