Combined measurement of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and highly sensitive cardiac troponin T for diagnosis and monitoring of heart injury in chronic Chagas' disease.

Objective: Chronic Chagas disease afflicts millions of patients in Latin America of which 70% remain asymptomatic but 30% develop fatal heart injury. To evaluate the impact of laboratory medicine for diagnosis and guiding of patients with Chagas' heart disease, we measured N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT).

Design And Methods: NT-proBNP and cTnT using the highly sensitive assay (hs-cTnT) were measured in 48 asymptomatic Chagas' patients (control group; (-) CM), and in symptomatic patients who suffered from mild/moderate (group (+/++) CM, n=62) or severe cardiomyopathy (group (+++) CM, n=27).

Cardiac troponin T measured with a highly sensitive assay for diagnosis and monitoring of heart injury in chronic Chagas disease.

Context: Chronic Chagas disease (15 million patients; annual incidence, 40, 000 patients; annual mortality, 12 ,500 patients) is the most serious parasitic disease in Latin America. Between 10 and 30 years after infection, 30% of patients with Chagas disease develop heart injury, which is the main reason for its high mortality. Consequently, frequent cardiac diagnostics are required for patients with Chagas disease.

Distinct patterns of autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors in Chagas' cardiomyopathy and megacolon. Their potential impact for early risk assessment in asymptomatic Chagas' patients.

Objectives: Distinguishing the patterns of autoantibodies (AAB) against G-protein-coupled receptors in Chagas' cardiomyopathy and megacolon and the discovery of such a pattern in patients who are as yet asymptomatic could help to identify patients at high risk of developing the life-threatening complications of Chagas' disease.

Background: Such AAB against receptors as beta 1 (beta1-AAB), beta 2 (beta2-AAB), and muscarinergic 2 (M2-AAB) are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of Chagas' cardiomyopathy and megacolon, the predominant manifestations of Chagas' disease, which is the most serious parasitic disease in Latin America.

Methods: Beta1-AAB, beta2-AAB, and M2-AAB were measured in the serum of asymptomatic Chagas' patients and in those with cardiomyopathy and/or megacolon.