Incidence and Predictors of Progression to Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Long-Term Follow-Up of Trypanosoma Cruzi Seropositive Individuals

Author(s):  
Maria Carmo P. Nunes ◽  
Lewis F. Buss ◽  
Jose Luiz P. da Silva ◽  
Larissa Natany Almeida Martins ◽  
Claudia Di Lorenzo Oliveira ◽  
...  

Background: There are few contemporary cohorts of Trypanosoma cruzi -seropositive individuals, and the basic clinical epidemiology of Chagas disease is poorly understood. Herein, we report the incidence of cardiomyopathy and death associated with T. cruzi seropositivity. Methods: Participants were selected in blood banks at 2 Brazilian centers. Cases were defined as T. cruzi -seropositive blood donors. T. cruzi -seronegative controls were matched for age, sex, and period of donation. Patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy were recruited from a tertiary outpatient service. Participants underwent medical examination, blood collection, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram at enrollment (2008 to 2010) and at follow-up (2018 to 2019). The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and development of cardiomyopathy, defined as the presence of a left ventricular ejection fraction <50% and/or QRS complex duration ≥ 120 ms. To handle loss to follow-up, a sensitivity analysis was performed using inverse probability weights for selection. Results: We enrolled 499 T. cruzi -seropositive donors (age 48 ± 10 years, 52% male), 488 T. cruzi -seronegative donors (age 49 ± 10 years, 49% male), and 101 patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy (age 48 ± 8 years, 59% male). The mortality in patients with established cardiomyopathy was 80.9 deaths/1000 person-years (py) (54/101, 53%) and 15.1 deaths/1000py (17/114, 15%) in T. cruzi -seropositives with cardiomyopathy at baseline. Among T. cruzi -seropositive donors without cardiomyopathy at baseline mortality was 3.7 events/1000py (15/385, 4%), which was no different from T. cruzi -seronegative donors with 3.6 deaths/1000py (17/488, 3%). The incidence of cardiomyopathy in T. cruzi -seropositive donors was 13.8 (95% CI 9.5-19.6) events/1000py (32/262, 12%) compared with 4.6 (95% CI 2.3-8.3) events/1000 py (11/277, 4%) in seronegative controls, with an absolute incidence difference associated with T. cruzi seropositivity of 9.2 (95% CI 3.6 - 15.0) events/1000py. T. cruzi antibody level at baseline was associated with development of cardiomyopathy (adjusted OR of 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8). Conclusions: We present a comprehensive description of the natural history of T. cruzi seropositivity in a contemporary patient population. The results highlight the central importance of anti- T. cruzi antibody titer as a marker of Chagas disease activity and risk of progression.

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giselle L Peixoto ◽  
Rodrigo O Madia ◽  
Sérgio F Siqueira ◽  
Mariana M Lensi ◽  
Silvana D Nishioka ◽  
...  

Introduction: Chagas’ disease causes different clinical expressions in the heart and permanent pacing due to bradycardia is not uncommon. Objective: Predictors of death in patients with Chagas Cardiomyopathy requiring pacemaker (PM) are unknown. This is the aim of this study. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 529 patients included in the Pacinchagas Study - Risk Stratification in Pacemaker Patients with Chagas Cardiomyopathy, which primary objective is to create a risk score to predict death in this population. The patients are submitted to an extent questionnaire which included clinical (NYHA class, symptoms, comorbidities and medications) functional (electrocardiography, Holter and echocardiography) and electronic variables (burden of pacing and arrhythmias). Patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in this preliminar analysis. Results: The cohort included 337 (63.7%) females, the mean age was 62.3±11.9 years and 63.1% were in NYHA class I. Indication for PM implantation was atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome, atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response and unknown in 72.0%; 20.4%; 5.1% and 2.5%, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 1.5±0.6 years, 62 (11.7%) patients died. The mean time of PM implantation was not different between the dead and the survivors (11.9±9.0years versus 11.1±8.6years, P=0.503). Twenty-five deaths (40.3%) were sudden, 22 (35.5%) were due to heart failure, 6 (9.7%) were due to other cardiovascular causes, and 7 (11.3%) were due to noncardiovascular causes. The cause of death could not be determined in two patients (3.2%). Cox proportional hazards identified three predictors of death: NYHA class III/IV (Hazard Ratio [HR] 5.661; 95% Confidence Interval [95%IC] 2.617-12.245; P<0.001); left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤42% (HR 2.779; 95%IC 1.299-5.945; P=0.008) and chronic kidney disease (HR 2.635; 95%IC 1.167-5.948; P=0.020). Conclusions: This analysis of Pacinchagas study identified in a mean follow-up of one year and half, three predictors of death in PM users with Chagas Cardiomyopathy: NYHA class III/IV, LVEF≤42% and chronic kidney disease.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia Rodríguez-Morales ◽  
Francisco-Javier Roldán ◽  
Jesús Vargas-Barrón ◽  
Enrique Parra-Benítez ◽  
María de Lourdes Medina-García ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Chagas disease (ChD) is nowadays considered as an emerging disease in the USA and Europe. pBCSP and pBCSSP4 plasmids, containing Trypanosoma cruzi genes encoding a trans -sialidase protein and an amastigote-specific glycoprotein, respectively, were tested as vaccines in canine model. Echocardiography studies for determining the prophylactic effect of these genes in experimentally infected dogs were evaluated to compare with findings obtained by other techniques performed previously. Hemodynamic parameters after DNA-immunization were performed. Results: Low fractional-shortening values of non-vaccinated dogs suggested an impairment in general cardiac function. Low Left-Ventricular-Ejection-Fraction values found in infected dogs suggested myocardial injury regardless of whether they were vaccinated or not. Low Left-Ventricular-Diastolic/Systolic-Diameters in vaccinated dogs suggested that progressive heart damage or heart dilation could be prevented by DNA vaccination. Systolic-Peak-Time was higher in non-vaccinated groups increasing vulnerability to malignant arrhythmias and sudden death. High Left-Ventricular-Volume in infected groups suggested a decrease in wall thickness that might lead to increased size of the heart cavity, except in the pBCSP plasmid-vaccinated dogs. Conclusions: The use of echocardiography allowed a more complete follow-up the pathological process in the living patient than with other techniques like electrocardiography, anatomopathology and histopathology, being the method of choice for characterizing the clinical stages of ChD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 1391-1396
Author(s):  
Luiz Carlos Santana Passos ◽  
Rodrigo Morel Vieira de Melo ◽  
Yasmin Menezes Lira ◽  
Natalia Ferreira Cardoso de Oliveira ◽  
Thiago Trindade ◽  
...  

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a therapeutic modality for patients with heart failure (HF). The effectiveness of this treatment for event reduction is based on clinical trials where the population of patients with Chagas' disease (DC) is underrepresented. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognosis after CRT of a population in which CD is an endemic cause of HF. METHODS: A retrospective cohort conducted between January 2015 and December 2016 that included patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 35% and undergoing CRT. Clinical and demographic data were collected to search for predictors for the combined outcome of death or hospitalization for HF at one year after CRT implantation. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were evaluated, and 13 (24.1%) presented CD as the etiology of HF. The mean LVEF was 26.2± 6.1%, and 36 (66.7%) patients presented functional class III or IV HF. After the mean follow-up of 15 (±6,9) months, 17 (32.1%) patients presented the combined outcome. In the univariate analysis, CD was associated with the combined event when compared to other etiologies of HF, 8 (47%) vs. 9 (13,5%), RR: 3,91 CI: 1,46–10,45, p=0,007, as well as lower values of LVEF. In the multivariate analysis, CD and LVEF remained independent risk factors for the combined outcome. CONCLUSION: In a population of HF patients undergoing CRT, CD was independently associated with mortality and hospitalization for HF.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 648
Author(s):  
Olivia Rodríguez-Morales ◽  
Francisco-Javier Roldán ◽  
Jesús Vargas-Barrón ◽  
Enrique Parra-Benítez ◽  
María de Lourdes Medina-García ◽  
...  

Chagas disease (ChD) is considered an emerging disease in the USA and Europe. Trypanosoma cruzi genes encoding a trans-sialidase protein and an amastigote-specific glycoprotein were tested as vaccines in canine model. The aim for this study was determining the prophylactic effect of these genes in experimentally infected dogs by echocardiography evaluation to compare with our findings obtained by other techniques published previously. Low fractional-shortening values of non-vaccinated dogs suggested an impairment in general cardiac function. Low left ventricular ejection fraction values found in infected dogs suggested myocardial injury regardless of whether they were vaccinated. Low left ventricular diastolic/systolic diameters suggested that progressive heart damage or heart dilation could be prevented by DNA vaccination. Systolic peak time was higher in non-vaccinated groups, increasing vulnerability to malignant arrhythmias and sudden death. High left ventricular volume suggested a decrease in wall thickness that might lead to increased size of the heart cavity, except in the pBCSP plasmid-vaccinated dogs. There was an echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular dilation and reduction in systolic function in experimental chagasic dogs. Echocardiography allowed a more complete follow-up of the pathological process in the living patient than with other techniques like electrocardiography, anatomopathology, and histopathology, being the method of choice for characterizing the clinical stages of ChD.


Circulation ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 216-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edimar Alcides Bocchi ◽  
Guilherme Veiga Guimarães ◽  
Luiz Felipe P. Moreira ◽  
Fernando Bacal ◽  
Alvaro Vilela de Moraes ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Leon-Justel ◽  
Jose I. Morgado Garcia-Polavieja ◽  
Ana Isabel Alvarez-Rios ◽  
Francisco Jose Caro Fernandez ◽  
Pedro Agustin Pajaro Merino ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a major and growing medical and economic problem, with high prevalence and incidence rates worldwide. Cardiac Biomarker is emerging as a novel tool for improving management of patients with HF with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods This is a before and after interventional study, that assesses the impact of a personalized follow-up procedure for HF on patient’s outcomes and care associated cost, based on a clinical model of risk stratification and personalized management according to that risk. A total of 192 patients were enrolled and studied before the intervention and again after the intervention. The primary objective was the rate of readmissions, due to a HF. Secondary outcome compared the rate of ED visits and quality of life improvement assessed by the number of patients who had reduced NYHA score. A cost-analysis was also performed on these data. Results Admission rates significantly decreased by 19.8% after the intervention (from 30.2 to 10.4), the total hospital admissions were reduced by 32 (from 78 to 46) and the total length of stay was reduced by 7 days (from 15 to 9 days). The rate of ED visits was reduced by 44% (from 64 to 20). Thirty-one percent of patients had an improved functional class score after the intervention, whereas only 7.8% got worse. The overall cost saving associated with the intervention was € 72,769 per patient (from € 201,189 to € 128,420) and €139,717.65 for the whole group over 1 year. Conclusions A personalized follow-up of HF patients led to important outcome benefits and resulted in cost savings, mainly due to the reduction of patient hospitalization readmissions and a significant reduction of care-associated costs, suggesting that greater attention should be given to this high-risk cohort to minimize the risk of hospitalization readmissions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Kavsur ◽  
C Iliadis ◽  
C Metze ◽  
M Spieker ◽  
V Tiyerili ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Recent studies indicate that careful patient selection is key for the percutaneous edge-to-edge repair via MitraClip procedure. The MIDA Score represents a useful tool for patient selection and is validated in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). Aim We here assessed the potential benefit of the MIDA Score for patients with functional or degenerative MR undergoing edge-to-edge mitral valve repair via the MitraClip procedure. Methods In the present study, we retrospectively included 520 patients from three Heart Centers undergoing MitraClip implantation for MR. All parameters of the MIDA Score were available in these patients, consisting of the 7 variables age, symptoms, atrial fibrillation, left atrial diameter, right ventricular systolic pressure, left-ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction. According to the median MIDA-Score of 9 points, patients were stratified in to a high and a low MIDA Score group and association with all-cause mortality was evaluated. Moreover, MR was assessed in echocardiographic controls in 370 patients at discharge, 279 patients at 3-months and 222 patients at 12 months after MitraClip implantation. Results During 2-years follow-up after MitraClip implantation, 69 of 291 (24%) patients with a high MIDA Score and 25 of 229 (11%) patients with a low MIDA Score died. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test showed inferior rates of death in patients with a low score (p&lt;0.001) and multivariate cox regression revealed an odds ratio of 0.54 (0.31–0.95; p=0.032) regarding 2-year survival in this group. Moreover, one point increase in the MIDA Score was associated with a 1.18-fold increase in the risk for mortality (1.02–1.36; p=0.025). Comparing patients with a high MIDA Score and patients with a low score, post-procedural residual moderate/severe MR tended to be more frequent in patients with a high MIDA Score at discharge (53% vs 43%; p=0.061), 3-months (50% vs 40%; p=0.091) and significantly at 12-months follow-up (52% vs 37%; p=0.029). Conclusion The MIDA Mortality Risk Score remained its predictive ability in patients with degenerative or function MR undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair. Moreover, a high MIDA score was associated with a higher frequency of post-procedural residual moderate/severe MR, indicating a lower effectiveness of this procedure in these patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antony Leslie Innasimuthu ◽  
Sanjay Kumar ◽  
Jason Lazar ◽  
William E. Katz

Because the natural progression of low-gradient aortic stenosis (LGAS) has not been well defined, we performed a retrospective study of 116 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis who had undergone follow-up echocardiography at a median interval of 698 days (range, 371–1,020 d). All patients had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (&gt;0.50) during and after follow-up. At baseline, patients were classified by aortic valve area (AVA) as having mild stenosis (≥1.5 cm2), moderate stenosis (≥1 to &lt;1.5 cm2), or severe stenosis (&lt;1 cm2). Severe aortic stenosis was further classified by mean gradient (LGAS, mean &lt;40 mmHg; high-gradient aortic stenosis [HGAS], mean ≥40 mmHg). We compared baseline and follow-up values among 4 groups: patients with mild stenosis, moderate stenosis, LGAS, and HGAS. At baseline, 30 patients had mild stenosis, 54 had moderate stenosis, 24 had LGAS, and 8 had HGAS. Compared with the moderate group, the LGAS group had lower AVA but similar mean gradient. Yet the actuarial curves for progressing to HGAS were significantly different: 25% of patients in LGAS reached HGAS status significantly earlier than did 25% of patients in the moderate-AS group (713 vs 881 d; P=0.035). Because LGAS has a high propensity to progress to HGAS, we propose that low-gradient aortic stenosis patients be closely monitored as a distinct subgroup that warrants more frequent echocardiographic follow-up.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ikeda ◽  
M Iguchi ◽  
H Ogawa ◽  
Y Aono ◽  
K Doi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hypertension is one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, relationship between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cardiovascular events in AF patients remains unclear. Methods The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of AF patients in Japan. Follow-up data were available in 4,466 patients, and 4,429 patients with available data of DBP were examined. We divided the patients into three groups; G1 (DBP&lt;70 mmHg, n=1,946), G2 (70≤DBP&lt;80, n=1,321) and G3 (80≤DBP, n=1,162), and compared the clinical background and outcomes between groups. Results The proportion of female was grater in G1 group, and the patients in G1 group were older and had higher prevalence of heart failure (HF), diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD). Prescription of beta blockers was higher in G1 group, but that of renin-angiotensin system-inhibitors and calcium channel blocker was comparable. During the median follow-up of 1,589 days, in Kaplan-Meier analysis, the incidence rates of cardiovascular events (composite of cardiac death, ischemic stroke and systemic embolism, major bleeding and HF hospitalization during follow up) were higher in G1 group and G3 group than G2 group (Figure 1). When we divided the patients based on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) at baseline (≥130 mmHg or &lt;130 mmHg), the incidence of rates of cardiovascular events were comparable among groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis including female gender, age (≥75 years), higher SBP (≥130 mmHg), DM, pre-existing HF, CKD, low left ventricular ejection fraction (&lt;40%) and DBP (G1, G2, G3) revealed that DBP was an independent determinant of cardiovascular events (G1 group vs. G2 group; hazard ratio (HR): 1.40, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.19–1.64, G3 group vs. G2 group; HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.01–1.49). When we examined the impact of DBP according to 10 mmHg increment, patients with very low DBP (&lt;60 mmHg) (HR: 1.50,95% CI:1.24–1.80) and very high DBP (≥90 mmHg) (HR: 1.51,95% CI:1.15–1.98) had higher incidence of cardiovascular events than patients with DBP of 70–79 mmHg (Figure 2). However, when we examined the impact of SBP according to 20 mmHg increment, SBP at baseline was not associated with the incidence of cardiovascular events (Figure 3). Conclusion In Japanese patients with AF, DBP exhibited J curve association with higher incidence of cardiovascular events. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


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