title: Determining the C-reactive protein level in patients with different clinical forms of chagas disease.
abstract: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and remains a health problem in the developing countries of South America. The condition leads to cardiac conduction disturbances and chronic heart failure. In this study, 136 individuals were evaluated by the Chagas Disease Study Group of the Hospital de la Universidad Estatal de Campinas in Brazil to determine the relationship between chronic heart failure and the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level. When patients were stratified according to the different clinical presentations of Chagas disease, it was found that the CRP levels in those with severe heart disease and non-Chagasic cardiopathy were significantly higher than in controls or those with mild heart disease (P< .05), even when participants were stratified by age (i.e. <40 and > or =40 years). There was a direct linear correlation between age and CRP level, such that the older the individual, the higher the CRP level. These data provide further evidence for an association between chronic inflammation and the development of heart failure. Although CRP elevations are not exclusively related to Chagas disease, the CRP level may be a useful marker for the progression of Chagas disease to a more advanced phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences of Campinas State University – UNICAMP and Chagas Disease Study Group (GEDoCh) of University Hospital of UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aparecida da Silva
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattori
authors.forename: Aglécio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Sílvia B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mazon
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monte Alegre
authors.forename: Eros A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Guariento
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein