Sleeping hearts: the role of the heart in sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis).
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the frequency and evolution of heart involvement in human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) using electrocardiogram (ECG) findings; to describe these findings and to assess the frequency and clinical relevance of symptoms and signs before and after treatment.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study ECG findings, signs and symptoms consistent with heart failure and cardiac laboratory parameters were studied at baseline, 2 days after the end of treatment and 3 months later.


RESULTS
Major ECG alterations were significantly more frequent in HAT patients than in healthy controls (71%vs. 18%; P < 0.001); 31% were low voltage changes, 34% were repolarization changes. ECG signs of necrosis and conduction problems were rare. Symptoms consistent with heart failure such as exertional dyspnoea (19%vs. 1.7%; P = 0.002) or palpitations (18%vs. 5%; P = 0.28) occurred more frequently in patients than in controls. The median NT-proBNP was significantly higher in HAT patients than in controls (85.2 vs. 28 pg/ml; P < 0.001). Troponin levels were normal. At the end of treatment repolarization changes appeared or worsened in 33.4%. Such changes improved or disappeared at follow-up in 33.1% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac involvement documented by ECG alterations is common in HAT patients, but cardiopathy rarely causes severe congestive heart failure and subsides after treatment. ECG alterations immediately after treatment and their improvement 3 months later may be the result of a treatment-induced inflammatory reaction.
Blum
Johannes A
JA
Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland. johannes.blum@unibas.ch
Burri
Christian
C
Hatz
Christoph
C
Kazumba
Leon
L
Mangoni
Patrick
P
Zellweger
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008549:Melarsoprol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000503:physiopathology*
D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D008549:Melarsoprol; D000518:Eflornithine