Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Usefulness of EKG and Echocardiogram in a Non-Endemic Country.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chagas disease (CD) is a major cause of cardiomyopathy in Latin America, and migration movements have now spread the disease worldwide. However, data regarding Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) and the usefulness of echocardiography in non endemic countries are still scarce.

Methods and results

We selected 485 patients in the chronic phase of CD from two Spanish settings. Data from physical examination, electrocardiogram (EKG), x-ray, and two dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram were recorded. Trypanosoma cruzi DNA was assessed by PCR in peripheral blood. Patients were stratified according to the Kuschnir classification and a combination of echocardiogram and electrocardiogram findings. Patients mainly came from Bolivia (459; 94.6%). One hundred and forty three patie

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Montalva A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4911085 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature