Tissue damage markers in experimental Chagas' disease

Malondialdehydemia (MDA), measurements of heart and liver tissue damage (TDU), plasma activity of heart alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (LDH1) and liver lactate dehydrogenase (LDH5) were determined in non-infected mice and in mice infected with 10(5) T. cruzi, Y strain, bloodstream trypomastigotes. All the parameters measured were increased (P less than 0.01) in infected mice 8 days after intraperitoneal inoculation. The results indicate that plasma MDA levels can serve as a useful indicator of the systemic tissue injury found in Chagas' disease.