[Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Report of 60 cases]

In a general hospital located in the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, an endemic area for Chagas' disease, we performed a survey among people attending the outpatient Cardiology clinic. From 8640 patients we selected 158 who had potential exposure to Triatomine bugs, the vector of Tripanosoma cruzi. Sixty patients had: congestive heart failure or abnormal cardiac rythm or conduction defects. All of them had evidence for anti T. cruzi antibodies. A diagnosis of chronic Chagasic cardiopathy (CCC) was established. A systematic radiological survey disclosed esophageal or colonic dilatation in 17% of those patients suffering CCC. There is evidence of advanced Chagas' disease in this part of Mexico. The parasitic condition evolves to a chronic stage. A multicentric study to measure the magnitude of this health hazard is needed. The general practicioners should be informed about this condition.