Brain involvement in the chronic cardiac form of Chagas' disease

A pathological systematized study of the brain in 31 cases of the chronic form of cardiac Chagas' disease was undertaken. In three cases (10%), granulomatous encephalitis in multiple non-systematized foci was observed. In one case, a recent active process was involved, with the presence of parasites. In two cases, it was suggested that lesions were reliquat of the acute phase, indicating a process becoming inactive, or already inactive. The type of brain infection in the chronic form of Chagas' disease is discussed as a consequence of interfering with the parasite-host relation (e.g., immunodepression) and favouring acute episodes.