title: Cardiac autonomic control mechanisms in Chagas' heart disease. Therapeutic implications.
abstract: According to the neurogenic theory of Chagas' heart disease, the cardiac parasympathetic abnormalities of chagasic cardiac patients are due to a selective destruction of the cardiac parasympathetic neurons. Trypanosoma cruzi would selectively destroy the cardiac vagal neurons, during the acute stage of the disease. However, these cardiac parasympathetic abnormalities are found mainly in chagasic patients who are in very advanced stages of the disease. Furthermore, the extent of cardiac parasympathetic involvement correlates with the degree of left ventricular dilation. Cardiac parasympathetic abnormalities, and a reciprocal sympathetic hyperactivity are also present in non-chagasic cardiac patients. Modern medical treatment, with sympatholytic drugs, prevents ventricular dilatation and prolongs life in these non-chagasic cardiac patients. Consequently, if chagasic cardiac patients have ventricular dilatation-related parasympathetic abnormalities; it is of the utmost importance to ask: first, do they also have a progressive activation of their neurohumoral systems?; and second, would they benefit from sympatholytic drugs?.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiopatologia, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellabarbra
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Donis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Rossell
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Vasquez
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013565:Sympatholytics