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Chagasic cardiomyopathy, from acute to chronic: is this mediated by host susceptibility factors?

Andrés F Henao-Martínez1, David A Schwartz, Ivana V Yang

  • 1University of Colorado Denver, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Mail Stop B168, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. andres.henaomartinez@ucdenver.edu

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|July 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Chagasic cardiomyopathy develops in less than a third of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals. This review explores pathological features and host susceptibility factors influencing Chagas disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is a major cause of death in Trypanosoma cruzi infections.
  • CCC affects less than 30% of infected individuals, indicating significant variability in disease development.
  • Factors like environment, parasite genetics, and host susceptibility influence CCC onset and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathological characteristics of acute and chronic myocarditis in Chagas disease.
  • To identify and discuss host susceptibility factors contributing to the development of chagasic cardiomyopathy.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the multifactorial nature of CCC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pathological features of Chagasic myocarditis.
  • Analysis of host genetic and environmental factors influencing Trypanosoma cruzi infection outcomes.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on host susceptibility in Chagas disease.

Main Results:

  • Myocarditis occurs in both acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease.
  • Host genetic diversity, environmental exposures, and parasite strain variations play roles in CCC development.
  • Previous genetic studies focused on limited candidate genes, highlighting a gap in comprehensive analysis.

Conclusions:

  • CCC development is a complex process influenced by multiple factors.
  • Understanding host susceptibility is crucial for predicting and potentially preventing CCC.
  • Further research into host-parasite interactions is needed to elucidate CCC pathogenesis.

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