Defibrillation Threshold Testing and Long-term Follow-up in Chagas Disease.

Background: Sudden cardiac death is the most common cause of death in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). Because most CCC patients who are candidates for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) meet criteria for high defibrillation threshold values, a defibrillator threshold test (DTT) is suggested.

Objectives: We investigated the use of DTT in CCC patients, focusing on deaths related to ICD and arrhythmic events, as well as treatment during long-term follow-up.

Electrical Storm in Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Clinical Predictors, Outcome, and Arrhythmic Characteristics in a Prospective Registry.

Objectives: This study of patients with Chagas heart disease (CHD) with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death sought to compare the characteristics of those with or without electrical storm (ES) during long-term follow-up.

Background: ES is a common problem in patients with CHD harboring an ICD, but data on clinical predictors and outcomes are limited.

Methods: The authors retrospectively evaluated 110 patients with CHD with a mean follow-up of 1,949 ± 1,271 days.

Long-term follow-up of Chagas heart disease patients receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for secondary prevention.

Background: Chagas heart disease (CHD) is a dilated cardiomyopathy characterized by malignant ventricular arrhythmias and increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Much controversy exists concerning the efficacy of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICDs) in CHD because of mixed results observed. We report our long-term experience with ICDs for secondary prevention in CHD, with the specific aim of assessing the results in groups with preserved or depressed global left ventricular function.