Autoantibodies and chronic Chagas's heart disease.
Serum samples from 150 individuals from an area in Brazil where Chagas's disease is endemic were examined for the presence of autoantibodies (EVI and PN). Patients were divided into four groups according to the diagnostic value and prognostic significance of electrocardiographic changes. Results confirmed a close relationship between the EVI and PN antibodies and chagasic infection but their presence does not appear to relate to the severity of Chagas's heart disease.
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000302:isolation & purification
D001323:Autoantibodies