Key result
Chagas cardiomyopathy linked to unexplained heart block in two cases.
Why the study?
Chagas disease remains a cause of heart block and cardiomyopathy in Latin American patients, including those from non-endemic countries, requiring clinical awareness.
Case Report (n=2)
No
Chagas disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with heart failure and conduction abnormalities of unclear etiology, even in non-endemic regions.
Supports Chagas consideration in unexplained conduction disease; leaves open prospective validation in non-endemic regions.
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and mostly affects poor rural populations of central and south America. It is mainly acquired by bugs (triatoma) but also by ingestion of the parasite (fresh fruit juices) or by foetal-maternal blood passing. Despite an important decrease in transmission during the last decades in several countries, millions of patients are still chronically infected and most of them are asymptomatic. In 2012-2013, two cases were admitted in our cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) with heart block due to Chagas cardiomyopathy. Diagnosis was established by echocardiography and positive serological results for Trypanosoma cruzi. This report underlines that in cases of heart failure and conduction abnormalities of unclear aetiology, Chagas disease should be taken into consideration, even in patients originating from non-endemic countries.
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Bimbi et al. (2014) conducted a case report in Heart block due to Chagas cardiomyopathy (n=2). Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Chagas disease) was evaluated. Two cases of heart block due to Chagas cardiomyopathy were diagnosed, highlighting the need to consider Chagas disease in patients with conduction abnormalities of unclear etiology.
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