[Hanseniasis virchowiana in Chagas cardiopathy: an autopsy report]

This is a case report of lepromatous infection diagnosed at necropsy, with cardiac alterations directly caused by mycobacteria, in a 34-year-old black male with the cardiac form of Chagas' disease. The possible role of inflammatory mediators on cardiac dysfunction, and the possibility that immune depression may be due to factors associated with heart failure, as congestive splenomegaly and splenic infarctions, are emphasized.