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Case Report: Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias Mimicking Acute Coronary Syndrome in Chagas Disease
Renata Junqueira Moll-Bernardes1, Roberto Magalhães Saraiva2, Renée Sarmento de Oliveira1
1D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Insights
Chagas heart disease can mimic acute coronary syndrome (ACS), leading to misdiagnosis. Novel imaging aids in differentiating Chagas disease from ACS for accurate risk stratification.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Chagas heart disease presents with diverse clinical manifestations, including arrhythmias and heart failure.
- Chest pain and ECG changes in Chagas heart disease can be mistaken for acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Observation:
- Two patients with Chagas heart disease experienced syncope due to sustained ventricular tachycardia.
- These patients were initially misdiagnosed with ACS based on symptoms and electrocardiogram findings.
Findings:
- The study highlights the potential for misdiagnosis of Chagas heart disease as ACS.
- Electrocardiogram abnormalities in Chagas heart disease can overlap with those seen in ACS.
Implications:
- Accurate differential diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management and treatment.
- Novel imaging modalities can improve the diagnosis and risk stratification of Chagas heart disease.
- Early and correct diagnosis prevents delayed or incorrect treatment for patients with Chagas heart disease.
Abstract:
Chronic Chagas heart disease has different clinical manifestations including arrhythmias, heart failure, and stroke. Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms and when associated with changes in the electrocardiogram, such as T-wave changes, electrically inactive areas, and segmental wall motion abnormalities, may lead to a misdiagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Here, we describe two patients with Chagas heart disease and syncope due to sustained ventricular tachycardia who were misdiagnosed with ACS, and discuss the role of novel imaging modalities in the differential diagnosis and risk stratification.
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