title: [Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Report of 60 cases].
abstract: In a general hospital located in the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, an endemic area for Chagas' disease, we performed a survey among people attending the outpatient Cardiology clinic. From 8640 patients we selected 158 who had potential exposure to Triatomine bugs, the vector of Tripanosoma cruzi. Sixty patients had: congestive heart failure or abnormal cardiac rythm or conduction defects. All of them had evidence for anti T. cruzi antibodies. A diagnosis of chronic Chagasic cardiopathy (CCC) was established. A systematic radiological survey disclosed esophageal or colonic dilatation in 17% of those patients suffering CCC. There is evidence of advanced Chagas' disease in this part of Mexico. The parasitic condition evolves to a chronic stage. A multicentric study to measure the magnitude of this health hazard is needed. The general practicioners should be informed about this condition.
authors.affiliation: Hospital General Vicente Guerrero IMSS, Acapulco.
authors.forename: J de D
authors.initials: Jde D
authors.lastname: Mendoza González
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miranda Lluck
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Velazco Castrejón
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tinoco Reyna
authors.forename: M de J
authors.initials: Mde J
authors.lastname: Maciel Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
vernacular_title: Cardiopatía Chagásica crónica. Presentación de 60 casos.