Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and Chagas' disease: results of the ICD Registry Latin America.
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.
Muratore
Claudio A
CA
Hospital Fernandez, Cerviño, Buenos Aires, Argentina. cmuratore@intramed.net
Batista Sa
Luiz A
LA
Chiale
Pablo A
PA
Eloy
Ricardo
R
Tentori
Maria Cristina
MC
Escudero
Jaime
J
Lima
Antonio Malan Cavalcanti
AM
Medina
Luis E
LE
Garillo
Raúl
R
Maloney
Jennifer
J
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