Neurologic outcome after heart transplantation in Chagas' disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neurologic morbidity after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), we examined consecutive Chagas' (Ch) and non-Chagas' (NCh) patients, before and after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We undertook neurological and neuropsychological evaluations in Ch and NCh patients with end-stage cardiac failure, from September 1993 to September 1995. RESULTS: Of 10 Ch patients (mean age = 33.6 years; 7 male; mean follow-up = 10.8 months) and 13 NCh patients (mean age = 50.9 years; 12 male; mean follow-up = 15 months) 3 died (rejection and sepsis) without neurologic symptoms. Neurologic complications occurred in 4 Ch and 5 NCh patients. Two Ch patients had skin and myocardial Chagas' reactivation successfully treated, without CNS involvement. NPS performance and return to work rates were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Although Ch patients are potentially at a higher risk of Trypanosoma cruzi reactivation, in addition to all known neurologic complications of OHT, early neurologic complications detected in this sample were similar in Ch and NCh patients and could not be specifically related to Chagas' disease.