Chagas cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke.
American trypanosomiasis, known as Chagas disease is a major cause of cardiomyopathy in South America. Irreversible damage to the heart can appear 10-20 years after chagasic infection. The relationship between Chagas cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke has been reviewed. Significant variables that predict ischemic stroke in chagasic patients have been identified: apical aneurysm, cardiac insufficiency, electrocardiogram arrhythmia and female gender. Chagasic cardiomyopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis of the etiology of stroke, being a potential source of cardioembolic stroke.
Carod-Artal
Francisco Javier
FJ
Neurology Department, Sarah Hospital, SMHS, CEP 7330-150, Brasilia DF, Brazil. FJCarod@aol.com
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology