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Case Reports
. 2016 Apr;94(4):894-6.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0616. Epub 2016 Feb 8.

Rapidly Progressing Chagas Cardiomyopathy

John Hollowed  1 , Matthew McCullough  2 , Daniel Sanchez  2 , Mahmoud Traina  2 , Salvador Hernandez  2 , Efrain Murillo  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Rapidly Progressing Chagas Cardiomyopathy

John Hollowed et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, can cause a potentially life-threatening cardiomyopathy in approximately 10-40% of afflicted individuals. The decline in cardiac function characteristically progresses over the course of many years. We report a case of Chagas disease in which the patient experienced an atypical rapid deterioration to severe cardiomyopathy over the course of 16 months. This case argues the need for increased routine surveillance for patients with confirmed T. cruzi infection, who are determined to be at high-risk for worsening cardiomyopathy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Transthoracic echocardiogram, apical long-axis view, demonstrating the apical aneurysm (arrow) characteristic of Chagas cardiomyopathy.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Twelve lead electrocardiogram demonstrating normal sinus rhythm and left axis deviation consistent with left anterior fascicular block.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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