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Chagas' heart disease: gender differences in myocardial damage assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Antonildes N Assunção1, Michael Jerosch-Herold2, Rodrigo L Melo1

  • 1Heart Institute, InCor, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Computed Tomography Sector, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 44, Andar AB, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.

Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance : Official Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
|November 29, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Men with Chagas' heart disease show greater myocardial fibrosis and dysfunction than women. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) revealed significant gender differences in myocardial damage, potentially explaining poorer male prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Medical Research

Background:

  • Chagas' heart disease is associated with higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in males.
  • Previous reports suggest gender disparities in Chagas' heart disease outcomes.
  • Investigating gender differences in myocardial damage is crucial for understanding disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate gender differences in myocardial damage in Chagas' heart disease patients.
  • To assess myocardial damage using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).
  • To explore the relationship between gender, myocardial fibrosis, and left ventricular ejection fraction.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 62 seropositive Chagas' heart disease patients.
  • Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at 1.5 T was performed.
  • Analysis included correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction and myocardial fibrosis, adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

  • Males exhibited significantly greater myocardial fibrosis and lower left ventricular ejection fraction compared to females.
  • Myocardial fibrosis mediated 53% of the association between gender and myocardial dysfunction.
  • Transmural pattern and myocardial heterogeneity were more prevalent in male patients.

Conclusions:

  • Significant gender-related differences in myocardial damage were observed in Chagas' heart disease patients via CMR.
  • Myocardial fibrosis and dysfunction are linked to cardiovascular outcomes.
  • These findings may elucidate the poorer prognosis observed in males with Chagas' disease.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chagas’ heart diseaseGender differencesMyocardial dysfunctionMyocardial fibrosis

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