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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Heart transplantation for Chagas cardiomyopathy
Ana Rita Ramalho1, David Prieto2, Pedro Antunes2
1Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Cardiology Department, Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract:
Chagas disease is an endemic disease in Latin America that is increasingly found in non-endemic areas all over the world due to the flow of migrants from Central and South America. We present the case of a Brazilian immigrant in Portugal who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation for end-stage Chagas cardiomyopathy. Immunosuppressive therapy included prednisone, mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus. Twelve months after the procedure she is asymptomatic, with good graft function, and with no evidence of complications such as graft rejection, opportunistic infections, neoplasms or reactivation of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. By reporting the first case in Portugal of heart transplantation for Chagas cardiomyopathy, we aim to increase awareness of Chagas disease as an emerging global problem and of Chagas cardiomyopathy as a serious complication for which heart transplantation is a valuable therapeutic option.
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