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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Indeterminate form of Chagas disease: is left ventricular torsional mechanics a clue to subclinical myocardial abnormalities?

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Author(s):
Miguel Lima, Marcio Silva ; Voos, Mariana Callil ; Mathias, Jr., Wilson ; Tsutsuil, Jeane Mike
Total Authors: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: JOURNAL OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY; v. 15, n. 1, p. 6-12, MAR 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Background Chagas disease (CD) is highly endemic in Latin America, and has been emerging in developed countries. Early diagnosis of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, routinely done by echocardiography, is crucial for therapy. Speckle tracking echocardiography allows determination of LV segmental rotations, twist/torsion, and this analysis may disclose an unapparent myocardial contractile deficit in initial stages of CD. Therefore, this study aimed to highlight a possible unapparent myocardial contractile deficit in CD indeterminate form (IF) by a comprehensive torsional mechanics analysis. Methods Patients with CDIF diagnosis, initial chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCMP characterized by ECG abnormalities and LVEF > 0.55), and normal controls were prospectively enrolled, and underwent conventional echocardiogram with images acquisition for STE offline analysis. Target parameters were basal and apical rotations, and calculation of twist and torsion. Results A total of 42 patients were included (CDIF, eight; CCMP, 13; and 21 controls). Chagasic patients had a mean age of 55 years, five (24 %) men, and controls, 50 years, seven (33 %) men. Torsional mechanics analyzes resulted in no significant difference in all parameters studied between groups. Twist in CDIF was 20.8A degrees A +/- 6.5A degrees; CCMP, 19.0A degrees A +/- 3.5A degrees and controls, 19.7A degrees A +/- 3.7A degrees (p = 0.67). Torsion in CDIF was 2.6A degrees A +/- 0.8A degrees; CCMP, 2.4A degrees A +/- 0.6A degrees and controls, 2.4A degrees A +/- 0.5A degrees (p = 0.63). Conclusion Patients with Chagas disease have no abnormalities in torsional mechanics during its indeterminate and initial cardiomyopathy stages. (AU)