title: [Diagnostic performance of surface electrocardiogram in early detection of chagasic cardiomyopathy].
abstract: Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) allows early detection of myocardial involvement by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) in the early detection of Chagas' cardiomyopathy (CCM) compared with CMR.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 43 asymptomatic patients (30 women, 42 ± 9.8 years), diagnosed of Chagas disease. The sample was divided into 2 groups according to the presence (n=17) or absence (n=26) of electrocardiographic abnormalities. All patients underwent CMR and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was used as a marker of early myocardial involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six (14%) patients had a LGE significantly higher in the group who had electrocardiographic abnormalities (29 vs. 4%, P<.05). With CMR as the method of reference, the ECG had a sensitivity of 83% and a negative predictive value of 96% to detect CCM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECG is a useful, inexpensive and globally available tool for the screening of CCM in asymptomatic patients but with proven myocardial involvement in CMR.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España. Electronic address: bbochard@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bochard-Villanueva
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Imagen Cardíaca, ERESA, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Estornell-Erill
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España; Servicios Médicos Villarreal Club de Fútbol SAD, Villarreal, Castellón, España.
authors.forename: Óscar
authors.initials: Ó
authors.lastname: Fabregat-Andrés
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García-González
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morell-Cabedo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España; Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de València, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ridocci-Soriano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Chagas cardiomyopathy; Chagas disease; Diagnóstico precoz; Early diagnosis; Electrocardiografía; Electrocardiography; Enfermedad de Chagas; Magnetic resonance imaging; Miocardiopatía chagásica; Resonancia magnética