The Volume-Time Curve by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography in Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Insights into the Mechanism of Hemodynamic Adaptations.

Background: Three-dimensional echocardiography (3D ECHO) allows the generation of a volume-time curve representative of changes in the left ventricular (LV) volume throughout the entire cardiac cycle.

Objective: This study aims to demonstrate the hemodynamic adaptations present in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) by means of the volume and flow measurements obtained by the volume-time curve by 3D ECHO.

Methods: Twenty patients with CC and 15 healthy subjects were prospectively enrolled in a cross-sectional design study.

Correlation between BNP levels and Doppler echocardiographic parameters of left ventricle filling pressure in patients with Chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Unlabelled: Cardiomyopathy is the most important manifestation of Chagas' disease. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and Doppler echocardiographic parameters for diastolic dysfunction have shown correlation with left ventricle (LV) filling pressures.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare BNP levels with Doppler echocardiographic parameters in patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Myocardial dysfunction in chagasic patients with no apparent heart disease.

Background: The Tei index simultaneously evaluates the ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. It has a good correlation with hemodynamic data and has enabled the detection of initial ventricular function alterations of different etiologies.

Objective: To study initial biventricular function alterations in chagasic patients with no apparent heart disease, using the Tei index.

Six-minute walk test in Chagas cardiomyopathy.

We studied systematically, for the first time, the utility of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in Chagas disease. The walked distance at 6MWT correlated negatively with the increased circulating levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1, r=-0.358, p=0.

A randomized trial of carvedilol after renin-angiotensin system inhibition in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and beta-blockers in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy causes substantial morbidity and mortality in Latin America. Whether RAS inhibitors and beta-blockers are safe and beneficial has been challenged because of the lack of formal trials.

[Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect using transhepatic puncture].

The percutaneous closure of ostium secundum (OS) atrial septal defect (ASD) is a well-established procedure and is today considered the treatment of choice due to its good results and low morbidity and mortality. The procedure is routinely performed through the inferior vena cava (IVC). However, this route of access is not always available due to the obstruction or congenital absence of the IVC.