Role of autoantibodies in the physiopathology of Chagas' disease.
Chagas' disease is a serious health problem in Latin America. Between 25 to 30% of the infected patients develop the chronic form of the disease, with progressive myocardial damage and often, sudden death. Adrenergic or cholinergic antibodies with G-protein coupled membrane receptor activity may be present in the sera of these patients. The present study discusses the etiology and the contribution of antibodies to the physiopathology of Chagas' disease.
Medei
Emiliano Horacio
EH
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil. emedei70@hotmail.com
Nascimento
José Hamilton Matheus
JH
Pedrosa
Roberto Coury
RC
Carvalho
Antônio Carlos Campos de
AC
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D001323:Autoantibodies; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic