Emerging and under-recognized Chagas cardiomyopathy in non-endemic countries.
Due to recent population emigration movements, an epidemic of Chagas disease is currently menacing most developed countries. The authors report the case of a 53-year-old Brazilian woman living in Europe for the last 10 years who developed heart failure symptoms, having a previous symptomatic sinus node disease with a pacemaker implant at age of 40 years. The diagnosis was based on serology and myocardial biopsy and the patient was treated with nifurtimox. The authors emphasize the need of a high level of suspicion in patients with suggestive epidemiology and the need of populational screening of specific high risk groups. New treatment options are also discussed.
Joana Cortez, Evelise Ramos, Cristina Valente, António Vieira, Infectious Diseases Department, Coimbra's Hospital Centre and University, 3041-801 Coimbra, Portugal.
Joana
J
Cortez
Rui
R
Providência
Evelise
E
Ramos
Cristina
C
Valente
Jorge
J
Seixas
Manuela
M
Meruje
António
A
Leitão-Marques
António
A
Vieira