title: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and Chagas' disease: results of the ICD Registry Latin America.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chagas' disease is an endemic parasitic affliction in Latin America. It is frequently associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmia and sudden death. The aim of this study is to assess the evolution of patients with Chagas' disease treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-nine chagasic patients with ICD were included for analysis from the Medtronic ICD Registry Latin America. At implant, mean age was 59 +/- 10 years, and 72% were male. Eighty-one patients (91%) had secondary prevention indications. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 40 +/- 11%, and mean follow-up was 12 +/- 7 months. During follow-up, six patients died (6.7%); three due to congestive heart failure, one due to sudden death, and two due to non-cardiac cause. Hospitalization occurred in seven patients. Thirty-eight patients (42%) received appropriate ICD therapies. A total of 737 episodes were detected by the ICD. The mean period between ICD implantation and the first appropriate therapy was 104 days. Electrical storms were observed in 14 of the 89 patients (15.7%). Inappropriate therapies were observed in seven patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This registry confirms that ICD therapy provides protection by effectively terminating life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with Chagas' disease. This is especially so when patients receive the device for secondary prevention.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Fernandez, Cerviño, Buenos Aires, Argentina. cmuratore@intramed.net
authors.forename: Claudio A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.forename: Luiz A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Batista Sa
authors.forename: Pablo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chiale
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eloy
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tentori
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Escudero
authors.forename: Antonio Malan Cavalcanti
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garillo
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maloney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi; D055815:Young Adult