Bilateral papillary muscle infarction in a chagasic patient

We report a case of a 59-year-old patient diagnosed with chagasic cardiomyopathy, who manifested sudden heart failure while hospitalized, evolving to death due to cardiogenic and septic shock. Anatomical-pathological studies revealed infarction of the papillary muscles together with histological changes compatible with 48 to 72 hours of evolution. Pulmonary edema was considered the cause of death, probably related to mitral regurgitation of ischemic nature. The cause of the papillary muscle infarction was not elucidated by study of the coronary tree, which presented no signs of recent thrombosis. Explanation for the papillary muscle infarction in this patient may be related to the presence of alterations in microcirculation represented by vasodilation and the consequent phenomenon of "stealing" of blood flow in this territory to the detriment of other areas, or due to the fact that the papillary muscles may represent convergence zones of two distinct coronary circulations.