Biomaterial Database

Autonomic neuropathy and immunological abnormalities in Chagas' disease. 1992

A Fernandez, and M Hontebeyrie, and G Said

Service de Neurologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Université Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.

Chagas' disease (American Trypanosomiasis) is caused by infection with the haemoflagellate parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted from animals to man by the Reduviidae bug. The human disease is characterized by two phases. In the first (acute phase) parasitaemia is high and general symptoms variable. The next, which is lifelong (chronic phase), is characterized by inflammatory lesions in cardiac and skeletal muscle, gastrointestinal, the autonomic nervous system. Parasites are difficult to detect in blood and affected tissues. Lesions within the autonomic nervous system, lead to development of cardiomyopathy, megaoesophagus and megacolon. The discrepancy between the profusion of inflammatory lesions and the absence of parasites suggests the development of autoimmunity probably of a cell-mediated type. Several autoimmune abnormalities have been noted during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. These include suppression of the specific response to autoantibodies directed against antigens located in the endocardium and in nerves, and development of cell-mediated immunity against host antigens (cytotoxic T- and delayed type hypersensitivity T-cells). These autoimmune disorders are thought to be responsible for much of the pathological damage in chronic Chagas' disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009477	Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies	A group of inherited disorders characterized by degeneration of dorsal root and autonomic ganglion cells, and clinically by loss of sensation and autonomic dysfunction. There are five subtypes. Type I features autosomal dominant inheritance and distal sensory involvement. Type II is characterized by autosomal inheritance and distal and proximal sensory loss. Type III is DYSAUTONOMIA, FAMILIAL. Type IV features insensitivity to pain, heat intolerance, and mental deficiency. Type V is characterized by a selective loss of pain with intact light touch and vibratory sensation. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1995, Ch51, pp142-4)	HSAN,HSAN Type I,HSAN Type II,HSAN Type IV,HSAN Type V,HSN Type I,HSN Type II,Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis, Congenital,Neuropathies, Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic,Pain Insensitivity with Anhidrosis, Congenital,Sensory Neuropathy, Hereditary,Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies, Hereditary,Acroosteolysis, Giaccai Type,Acroosteolysis, Neurogenic,Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis,Familial Dysautonomia, Type 2,Familial Dysautonomia, Type II,Giaccai Type Acroosteolysis,HSAN (Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy),HSAN 1,HSAN 4,HSAN 5,HSAN I,HSAN IV,HSAN V,HSAN2,HSAN5,HSANII,Hereditary Sensory And Autonomic Neuropathy IV,Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, Type 1,Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, Type 2,Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, Type 4,Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, Type 5,Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy Type 1,Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy Type I,Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy Type Ia,Hereditary Sensory Radicular Neuropathy,Hereditary Sensory Radicular Neuropathy, Recessive Form,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy 4,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type 1,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type 2,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type I,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type II,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type IV,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type V,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy, Type 4,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy, Type 5,Insensitivity to Pain, Congenital, with Anhidrosis,Neurogenic Acroosteolysis,Neuropathy Hereditary Sensory Radicular, Autosomal Dominant,Neuropathy Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Type 1,Neuropathy, Congenital Sensory,Neuropathy, Congenital Sensory, with Anhidrosis,Neuropathy, Hereditary Sensory And Autonomic, Type I,Neuropathy, Hereditary Sensory And Autonomic, Type V,Neuropathy, Hereditary Sensory Radicular, Autosomal Dominant,Neuropathy, Hereditary Sensory Radicular, Autosomal Recessive,Neuropathy, Hereditary Sensory, Type I,Neuropathy, Progressive Sensory, Of Children,Acroosteolyses, Neurogenic,Congenital Sensory Neuropathies,Congenital Sensory Neuropathy,HSANs (Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy),HSN Type IIs,Hereditary Sensory Neuropathies,Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy,Neurogenic Acroosteolyses,Neuropathies, Congenital Sensory,Neuropathies, Hereditary Sensory,Neuropathy, Hereditary Sensory,Sensory Neuropathies, Congenital,Sensory Neuropathies, Hereditary,Sensory Neuropathy, Congenital,Type I, HSAN,Type I, HSN,Type IV, HSAN
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014349	Trypanosoma cruzi	The agent of South American trypanosomiasis or CHAGAS DISEASE. Its vertebrate hosts are man and various domestic and wild animals. Insects of several species are vectors.	Trypanosoma cruzus,cruzi, Trypanosoma
D014355	Chagas Disease	Infection with the protozoan parasite TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI, a form of TRYPANOSOMIASIS endemic in Central and South America. It is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who discovered the parasite. Infection by the parasite (positive serologic result only) is distinguished from the clinical manifestations that develop years later, such as destruction of PARASYMPATHETIC GANGLIA; CHAGAS CARDIOMYOPATHY; and dysfunction of the ESOPHAGUS or COLON.	Trypanosomiasis, South American,American Trypanosomiasis,Chagas' Disease,Trypanosoma cruzi Infection,Infection, Trypanosoma cruzi,Infections, Trypanosoma cruzi,South American Trypanosomiasis,Trypanosoma cruzi Infections,Trypanosomiasis, American
D015551	Autoimmunity	Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities