Electrocardiographic Findings in Mexican Chagasic Subjects Living in High and Low Endemic Regions of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 98; no. 5; pp. 605 - 610
• Main Authors: Sosa-Jurado, F, Mazariego-Aranda, M, Hernandez-Becerril, N, Garza-Murillo, V, Cardenas, M, Reyes, P A, Hirayama, K, Monteon, V M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01.07.2003; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Chagas Cardiomyopathy - diagnosis; Chagas Cardiomyopathy - epidemiology; Chagas Cardiomyopathy - physiopathology; Chagas disease; Child; electrocardiogram alterations; electrocardiogram alterations - seroprevalence; Electrocardiography; Endemic Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Mexico - epidemiology; Middle Aged; PARASITOLOGY; polymerase chain reaction; Rural Population; Seroepidemiologic Studies; seroprevalence; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Trypanosoma cruzi; Mexico; Chagas disease; seroprevalence; electrocardiogram alterations; polymerase chain reaction; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762003000500004

In México the first human chronic chagasic case was recognized in 1940. In spite of an increasing number of cases detected since that time, Chagas disease in México has been poorly documented. In the present work we studied 617 volunteers subjects living in high and low endemic regions of Trypanosoma cruzi infection with seroprevalence of 22% and 4% respectively. Hemoculture performed in those seropositive subjects failed to demonstrate circulating parasites, however polymerase chain reaction identified up to 60% of them as positives. A higher level of anti-T. cruzi antibodies was observed in seropositive residents in high endemic region, in spite of similar parasite persistence (p < 0.05). On standard 12 leads electrocardiogram (ECG) 20% to 22% seropositive individuals from either region showed right bundle branch block or ventricular extrasystoles which were more prevalent in seropositive than in seronegative individuals (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the frequency or type of ECG abnormality was influenced by serologic status but not by endemicity or parasite persistence. Furthermore, Mexican indeterminate patients have a similar ECG pattern to those reported in South America.