title: Electrocardiographic findings in Mexican chagasic subjects living in high and low endemic regions of Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Manuel Avila Camacho, Puebla, México.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sosa-Jurado
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazariego-Aranda
authors.forename: Nidia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hernández-Becerril
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garza- Murillo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
authors.forename: Pedro A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Monteón
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi