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Congestive heart failure and myocarditis after seroconversion for toxoplasmosis in two immunocompetent patients
J Chandenier1, G Jarry, D Nassif
1Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU d'Amiens, Hôpital Sud, France. jac-bri.chandenier@wanadoo.fr
Insights
Toxoplasmosis can cause heart problems like myocarditis and heart failure in healthy individuals. Cardiac issues may arise during initial infection or later, as shown in two patient cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Toxoplasmosis, caused by *Toxoplasma gondii*, is a common parasitic infection.
- Cardiac manifestations of toxoplasmosis, such as myocarditis and congestive heart failure, are rare in immunocompetent individuals.
- Understanding the timing and serological markers associated with cardiac involvement is crucial.
Abstract:
Two cases of myocarditis and congestive heart failure in immunocompetent patients with seroconversion for toxoplasmosis are reported. Serological tests showed that in the first case the cardiac manifestations occurred at the time of seroconversion (low IgG, raised IgM and IgA), whereas in the second case they occurred several months after the initial infection when IgM was decreasing, IgG levels were very high (>1000 IU/ml) and IgG had high affinity for the antigen. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiac involvement in acute or chronic toxoplasmosis are discussed.