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Chagas cardiomyopathy and heart failure: From epidemiology to treatment

Érico Santos1, Luiz Menezes Falcão2

  • 1Internato Médico em Anestesiologia, Universidade de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia
|June 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Chagas disease, a neglected tropical illness, causes varied symptoms and severe heart failure. Heart transplantation offers improved survival for affected patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chagas disease is a WHO-recognized neglected tropical disease endemic to Latin America.
  • Globalization and migration have spread Chagas disease to North America and Europe.
  • Clinical manifestations range from general symptoms to severe cardiac complications, including heart failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of Chagas heart disease.
  • To highlight diagnostic approaches and treatment challenges.
  • To discuss heart transplantation as a therapeutic option.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Chagas disease and its cardiac manifestations.
  • Analysis of diagnostic methods like ELISA, ECG, and electrophysiological studies.
  • Evaluation of treatment strategies, including heart transplantation.

Main Results:

  • Chagas heart disease is multifactorial, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and thromboembolism.
  • Diagnosis relies on serological tests (ELISA) and cardiac imaging/electrophysiology.
  • Specific treatments for Chagas-induced heart failure are lacking; general heart failure guidelines are used.
  • Heart transplantation shows satisfactory outcomes and improved survival.

Conclusions:

  • Chagas heart disease presents a significant global health challenge.
  • Current diagnostic and treatment protocols require further development.
  • Heart transplantation is a crucial intervention for end-stage Chagas heart disease.

Keywords:
ArrhythmiasArritmiasCardiopatia chagásicaChagas cardiomyopathyChagas diseaseDoença de ChagasHeart failureInsuficiência cardíacaMorte súbitaSudden death

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