Chagasic cardiomyopathy is a potential source of cardioembolic stroke and should be included in the differential diagnosis of stroke etiology, especially in patients with specific risk factors.
May inform stroke risk stratification in Chagas cardiomyopathy; leaves open prospective validation of predictors.
American trypanosomiasis, known as Chagas disease is a major cause of cardiomyopathy in South America. Irreversible damage to the heart can appear 10-20 years after chagasic infection. The relationship between Chagas cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke has been reviewed. Significant variables that predict ischemic stroke in chagasic patients have been identified: apical aneurysm, cardiac insufficiency, electrocardiogram arrhythmia and female gender. Chagasic cardiomyopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis of the etiology of stroke, being a potential source of cardioembolic stroke.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Francisco Javier Carod-Artal (2006) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: