Endomyocardial biopsy in Chagas' heart disease: pathogenetic contributions. 1995

M D Higuchi
Heart Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.

Endomyocardial biopsy procedure has been performed in many centers around the world, allowing a better treatment and follow-up of the patients with myocardial disease. In Chagas' disease, it has been performed in São Paulo Heart Institute since 1978 and has brought important contributions to the understanding of the disease and consequently of the patient's clinical stage. In the present work, we summarize the principal findings regarding the pathogenesis of Chagas' disease obtained mainly from the studies using endomyocardial biopsy specimens. Nowadays we do not have doubts that the inflammatory infiltrate aggressing myocardial fibers has fundamental role in the progression of the myocardial damage in Chagas' disease what culminates in chronic heart failure. The parasite seems to have active participation in the maintenance of such myocardial inflammation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002598 Chagas Cardiomyopathy A disease of the CARDIAC MUSCLE developed subsequent to the initial protozoan infection by TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI. After infection, less than 10% develop acute illness such as MYOCARDITIS (mostly in children). The disease then enters a latent phase without clinical symptoms until about 20 years later. Myocardial symptoms of advanced CHAGAS DISEASE include conduction defects (HEART BLOCK) and CARDIOMEGALY. Cardiomyopathy, Chagas,Myocarditis, Chagas,Trypanosomiasis, Cardiovascular,Chagas' Cardiomyopathy,Cardiomyopathy, Chagas',Cardiovascular Trypanosomiasis
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D004699 Endocardium The innermost layer of the heart, comprised of endothelial cells. Endocardiums
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001706 Biopsy Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body. Biopsies

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