Cardiac involvement in African and American trypanosomiasis

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Johannes A Blum1, Michael J Zellweger, Christian Burri

  • 1Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland. johannes.blum@unibas.ch

The Lancet. Infectious Diseases
|October 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

American and African trypanosomiasis, both arthropod-borne flagellate infections, affect the heart differently. Chagas disease causes significant cardiac issues, while sleeping sickness-related heart problems are generally mild and resolve with treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Tropical medicine
  • Parasitology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT; sleeping sickness) are caused by arthropod-transmitted flagellates.
  • Cardiac morbidity is prominent in chronic Chagas disease, whereas neurological complications dominate HAT.
  • Physicians must consider these diseases in patients from endemic areas, irrespective of departure time.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the differences between American and African trypanosomiasis.
  • To focus on the cardiac manifestations of both diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Chagas disease and HAT.
  • Comparative analysis of cardiac involvement in both conditions.

Main Results:

  • Chagas heart disease requires consideration in cardiomyopathy differential diagnosis, especially with specific ECG and echocardiographic findings.
  • Cardiac involvement in HAT, including ECG alterations, is common but typically benign and resolves with treatment.
  • Neurological issues are more characteristic of HAT, while cardiac problems are primary in Chagas disease.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct cardiac profiles characterize Chagas disease and HAT.
  • Awareness of these parasitic infections is crucial for diagnosing cardiac conditions in at-risk populations.
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for managing trypanosomiasis-related cardiac complications.

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