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BACKGROUND: The significance of detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in blood of antibody-positive patients for risk of development of Chagas heart disease is not well established. The objective of this study was to compare detection of T. cruzi DNA with known clinical and laboratory markers of Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) severity. METHODS: This is a case-control study nested within a retrospective cohort developed in Brazil to understand the natural history of Chagas disease. The study enrolled 499 T. cruzi seropositive blood donors (SP-BD) and 488 frequency matched seronegative control donors (SN-BD) who had donated between 1996 and 2002, and 101 patients with clinically diagnosed CC. In 2008-2010 all enrolled subjects underwent a health questionnaire, medical examination, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. A blinded panel of three cardiologists adjudicated the outcome of CC. Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast minicircle sequences were amplified by real-time PCR using an assay with a sensitivity of one parasite per 20 mL of blood. All testing was performed on coded samples. RESULTS: Rates of PCR detection of T. cruzi DNA were significantly (P = 0.003) higher in CC patients and SP-BD diagnosed with CC (79/105 [75.2 %]) compared with SP-BD without CC (143/279 [51.3%]). The presence of parasitaemia was significantly associated with known markers of disease progression such as QRS and QT interval duration, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, higher left ventricular index mass, and elevated troponin and NTpro-BNP levels. CONCLUSION: Trypanosoma cruzi PCR positivity is associated with presence and severity of cardiomyopathy, suggesting a direct role of parasite persistence in disease pathogenesis.

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Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and polymorphism contribute significantly to the prognosis of patients with cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to determine the activity and type of ACE polymorphism in patients with familial and nonfamilial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to correlate these with echocardiographic measurements (echo-Doppler). We studied 136 patients (76 males) with HCM (69 familial and 67 nonfamilial cases). Mean age was 41 ¡À 17 years. DNA was extracted from blood samples for the polymerase chain reaction and the determination of plasma ACE levels. Left ventricular mass, interventricular septum, and wall thickness were measured. Mean left ventricular mass index, interventricular septum and wall thickness in familial and nonfamilial forms were 154 ¡À 63 and 174 ¡À 57 g/m2 (P = 0.008), 19 ¡À 5 and 21 ¡À 5 mm (P = 0.02), and 10 ¡À 2 and 12 ¡À 3 mm (P = 0.0001), respectively. ACE genotype frequencies were DD = 35%, ID = 52%, and II = 13%. A positive association was observed between serum ACE activity and left ventricular mass index (P = 0.04). Logistic regression showed that ACE activity was twice as high in patients with familial HCM and left ventricular mass index ¡Ý190 g/m2 compared with the nonfamilial form (P = 0.02). No other correlation was observed between ACE polymorphisms and the degree of myocardial hypertrophy. In conclusion, ACE activity, but not ACE polymorphisms, was associated with the degree of myocardialhypertrophy in the patients with HCM.

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Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and polymorphism contribute significantly to the prognosis of patients with cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to determine the activity and type of ACE polymorphism in patients with familial and nonfamilial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to correlate these with echocardiographic measurements (echo-Doppler). We studied 136 patients (76 males) with HCM (69 familial and 67 nonfamilial cases). Mean age was 41 +/- 17 years. DNA was extracted from blood samples for the polymerase chain reaction and the determination of plasma ACE levels. Left ventricular mass, interventricular septum, and wall thickness were measured. Mean left ventricular mass index, interventricular septum and wall thickness in familial and nonfamilial forms were 154 +/- 63 and 174 +/- 57 g/m(2) (P = 0.008), 19 +/- 5 and 21 +/- 5 mm (P = 0.02), and 10 +/- 2 and 12 +/- 3 mm (P = 0.0001), respectively. ACE genotype frequencies were DD = 35%, ID = 52%, and II = 13%. A positive association was observed between serum ACE activity and left ventricular mass index (P = 0.04). Logistic regression showed that ACE activity was twice as high in patients with familial HCM and left ventricular mass index >or=190 g/m(2) compared with the nonfamilial form (P = 0.02). No other correlation was observed between ACE polymorphisms and the degree of myocardial hypertrophy. In conclusion, ACE activity, but not ACE polymorphisms, was associated with the degree of myocardial hypertrophy in the patients with HCM.

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Constrictive pericarditis (CP) and restrictive cardiomyopathy share many similarities in both their clinical and hemodynamic characteristics and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a sensitive marker of cardiac diastolic dysfunction. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether serum NT-proBNP was high in patients with endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) and CP, and to investigate how this relates to diastolic dysfunction. Thirty-three patients were divided into two groups: CP (16 patients) and EMF (17 patients). The control group consisted of 30 healthy individuals. Patients were evaluated by bidimensional echocardiography, with restriction syndrome evaluated by pulsed Doppler of the mitral flow and serum NT-proBNP measured by immunoassay and detected by electrochemiluminescence. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the association between log NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters. Log NT-proBNP was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CP patients (log mean: 2.67 pg/mL; 95%CI: 2.43-2.92 log pg/mL) and in EMF patients (log mean: 2.91 pg/mL; 95%CI: 2.70-3.12 log pg/mL) compared with the control group (log mean: 1.45; 95%CI: 1.32-1.60 log pg/mL). There were no statistical differences between EMF and CP patients (P = 0.689) in terms of NT-proBNP. The NT-proBNP log tended to correlate with peak velocity of the E wave (r = 0.439; P = 0.060, but not with A wave (r = -0.399; P = 0.112). Serum NT-proBNP concentration can be used as a marker to detect the presence of diastolic dysfunction in patients with restrictive syndrome; however, serum NT-proBNP levels cannot be used to differentiate restrictive cardiomyopathy from CP.

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Constrictive pericarditis (CP) and restrictive cardiomyopathy share many similarities in both their clinical and hemodynamic characteristics and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a sensitive marker of cardiac diastolic dysfunction. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether serum NT-proBNP was high in patients with endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) and CP, and to investigate how this relates to diastolic dysfunction. Thirty-three patients were divided into two groups: CP (16 patients) and EMF (17 patients). The control group consisted of 30 healthy individuals. Patients were evaluated by bidimensional echocardiography, with restriction syndrome evaluated by pulsed Doppler of the mitral flow and serum NT-proBNP measured by immunoassay and detected by electrochemiluminescence. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the association between log NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters. Log NT-proBNP was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CP patients (log mean: 2.67 pg/mL; 95 percentCI: 2.43-2.92 log pg/mL) and in EMF patients (log mean: 2.91 pg/mL; 95 percentCI: 2.70-3.12 log pg/mL) compared with the control group (log mean: 1.45; 95 percentCI: 1.32-1.60 log pg/mL). There were no statistical differences between EMF and CP patients (P = 0.689) in terms of NT-proBNP. The NT-proBNP log tended to correlate with peak velocity of the E wave (r = 0.439; P = 0.060, but not with A wave (r = -0.399; P = 0.112). Serum NT-proBNP concentration can be used as a marker to detect the presence of diastolic dysfunction in patients with restrictive syndrome; however, serum NT-proBNP levels cannot be used to differentiate restrictive cardiomyopathy from CP.

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Leptin is produced primarily by adipocytes. Although originally associated with the central regulation of satiety and energy metabolism, increasing evidence indicates that leptin may be an important mediator in cardiovascular pathophysiology. The aim of the present study was to investigate plasma leptin levels in patient with Chagas' heart disease and their relation to different forms of the disease. We studied 52 chagasic patients and 30 controls matched for age and body mass index. All subjects underwent anthropometric, leptin and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurements and were evaluated by echocardiography, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and chest X-ray. All patients had fasting blood samples taken between 8:00 and 9:00 am. Chagasic patients were divided into 3 groups: group I (indeterminate form, IF group) consisted of 24 subjects with 2 positive serologic reactions for Chagas' disease and no cardiac involvement as evaluated by chest X-rays, ECG and two-dimensional echocardiography; group II (showing ECG abnormalities and normal left ventricular systolic function, ECG group) consisted of 14 patients; group III consisted of 14 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF group) and left ventricular dysfunction. Serum leptin levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the CHF group (1.4 ± 0.8 ng/mL) when compared to the IF group (5.3 ± 5.3 ng/mL), ECG group (9.7 ± 10.7 ng/mL), and control group (8.1 ± 7.8 ng/mL). NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the CHF group (831.8 ± 800.1 pg/mL) when compared to the IF group (53.2 ± 33.3 pg/mL), ECG group (83.3 ± 57.4 pg/mL), and control group (32 ± 22.7 pg/mL). Patients with Chagas' disease and an advanced stage of CHF have high levels of NT-ProBNP andlow plasma levels of leptin. One or more leptin-suppressing mechanisms may operate in chagasic patients.

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Leptin is produced primarily by adipocytes. Although originally associated with the central regulation of satiety and energy metabolism, increasing evidence indicates that leptin may be an important mediator in cardiovascular pathophysiology. The aim of the present study was to investigate plasma leptin levels in patient with Chagas' heart disease and their relation to different forms of the disease. We studied 52 chagasic patients and 30 controls matched for age and body mass index. All subjects underwent anthropometric, leptin and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurements and were evaluated by echocardiography, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and chest X-ray. All patients had fasting blood samples taken between 8:00 and 9:00 am. Chagasic patients were divided into 3 groups: group I (indeterminate form, IF group) consisted of 24 subjects with 2 positive serologic reactions for Chagas' disease and no cardiac involvement as evaluated by chest X-rays, ECG and two-dimensional echocardiography; group II (showing ECG abnormalities and normal left ventricular systolic function, ECG group) consisted of 14 patients; group III consisted of 14 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF group) and left ventricular dysfunction. Serum leptin levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the CHF group (1.4 +/- 0.8 ng/mL) when compared to the IF group (5.3 +/- 5.3 ng/mL), ECG group (9.7 +/- 10.7 ng/mL), and control group (8.1 +/- 7.8 ng/mL). NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the CHF group (831.8 +/- 800.1 pg/mL) when compared to the IF group (53.2 +/- 33.3 pg/mL), ECG group (83.3 +/- 57.4 pg/mL), and control group (32 +/- 22.7 pg/mL). Patients with Chagas' disease and an advanced stage of CHF have high levels of NT-ProBNP andlow plasma levels of leptin. One or more leptin-suppressing mechanisms may operate in chagasic patients.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess, in a prospective way, the experience with video-assisted pericardioscopy obtained in patients with pericardial effusion of unclear etiology in the preoperative period. METHODS: From January 1998 to June 2000, 20 patients were operated upon with the aid of video-assisted pericardioscopy. On echocardiography, 17 of these patients had significant pericardial effusion, and 3 had moderate pericardial effusion. Video-assisted pericardioscopy was performed through a small incision of the Marfan type. RESULTS: The diagnosis of pericardial effusion was established as follows: idiopathic in 9 (45%) patients, neoplastic in 4 (20%), resulting from hypothyroidism in 3 (15%), tuberculous in 2 (10%), due to cholesterol in 1 (5%), and chylopericardial in 1 (5%). The biopsy was positive in 30% of the patients, and the etiology could not be defined in 45% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted pericardioscopy proved to be a method with low morbidity and a high index of diagnostic positivity. A high percentage of pericardial effusions are caused by viral infections, which are not diagnosed through current methods, being, therefore, classified as idiopathic.

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OBJECTIVE: To identify and associate potential electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes in patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas' disease during long-term follow-up. METHODS: One hundred sixty patients underwent standard electrocardiography and two-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography for left ventricular ejection fraction determination. Patients were followed up for 98.6+/-30.4 months, undergoing repeat electrocardiographic studies at 6-month intervals and echocardiographic studies at 12-month intervals. RESULTS: Based on the electrocardiographic findings, the patients were divided into group I, 125 patients (78.6%) with normal electrocardiograms throughout follow-up, and group II, 34 patients (21.3%) who developed electrocardiographic changes. Group II was further divided into group IIA (9 patients, 5.6%) with permanent electrocardiographic changes, group IIB (14 patients, 8.8%) with transitory electrocardiographic changes, and group IIC (11 patients, 6.9%) with changes appearing only on the final electrocardiogram. Left ventricular ejection fractions remained normal in the entire population studied and did not differ among groups. CONCLUSION: The indeterminate form of Chagas' disease clearly represents a benign condition with a favorable long-term prognosis. Although some patients develop electrocardiographic changes, left ventricular systolic function is well preserved.

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During a diagnostic investigation in a 40-year-old male with pericardial effusion associated with hypothyroidism, cholesterol pericarditis was detected. We report a brief review on the etiopathogeny, clinical findings, and therapeutical possibilities of this entity.

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OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical and histologic findings of 50 patients with primary neoplasms of the heart in a tertiary referral center. METHODS: From 1980 to 1998, we retrospectively analyzed 50 patients, 32 of whom were females, whose ages ranged from 9 to 73 years (mean age = 44.16+/-18 years). RESULTS: Most tumors were located in the left side of the heart (72%), myxoma being the most common (84%) histologic type. The other histologic types found were as follows: fibroma (4%), lipoma (2%), rhabdomyosarcoma (2%), hemangioma (2%), sarcoma (2%), angiosarcoma (2%), and lymphoma (2%). Diagnosis was established by echocardiography in 94% of the cases. Clinical findings were as follows: dyspnea (36%), weight loss (20%), palpitations (18%), chest pain (16%), fever (8%), and arthralgia (6%). All patients with thromboembolic phenomena (10%) had left atrial myxoma. Approximately 20% of the patients were asymptomatic at the initial clinical assessment. CONCLUSION: Primary cardiac tumors are a rare entity with diverse clinical and histologic findings, requiring, therefore, a high level of clinical suspicion.

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BACKGROUND: Chagas' disease is a known dilated form of cardiomyopathy. However, a great number of patients, although showing electrocardiographic (ECG) well-recognized changes, maintain normal ventricular chamber dimensions and are asymptomatic. The aim of the present study was to objectively characterize functional capacity in asymptomatic patients with Chagas' disease and normal left ventricular function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighteen asymptomatic male patients with Chagas' disease, aged 33+/-6 years, were selected for the study. All showed ECG changes typical of the disease, as well as left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) greater than 0.30 on M-mode 2-dimensionally guided echocardiography. Twenty sedentary normal male patients, aged 29+/-6 years, served as controls. Both groups were submitted to ergoespirometry testing for assessment of exercise functional capacity. Patients with Chagas' disease, when compared with controls, showed lower (P < .001) maximal O2 consumption (VO2max, 24.3+/-4.2 v 37.0+/-5.4 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) respectively); O2 pulse rate (PO2max, 10.5+/-1.4 v 15.1+/-2.5 mL/beat, respectively); maximal ventilation (VEmax, 50.1+/-13.5 v 113.0+/-17.6 L x min(-1), respectively); anaerobic threshold of maximal O2 consumption (VO2-AT, 15.8+/-3.6 v 24.6+/-4.7 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1), respectively); and maximal heart rate (HRmax, 154+/-21 v 186+/-7 beat x min(-1), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic patients with Chagas' disease, although presenting normal left ventricular systolic function at rest, display a substantial impairment of exercise functional capacity.

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Cardiac performance is negatively associated with interstitial collagen in Chagas' cardiomyopathy. The magnitude of dysfunction is related to the degree of collagen, and this association seems to exhibit a threshold above it if definite cardiac deterioration occurs.

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PURPOSE: To characterize patients with neoplastic pericardial disease diagnosed by clinical presentation, complementary test findings, and the histological type of tumor. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with neoplastic pericardial disease were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Clinical manifestations and abnormalities in chest roentgenograms and electrocardiograms were frequent, but were not specific. Most patients underwent surgery. There was a high positivity of the pericardial biopsy when associated with the cytological analysis of the pericardial liquid used to determine the histological type of the tumor, particularly when the procedure was performed with the aid of pericardioscopy. CONCLUSION: The correct diagnosis of neoplastic pericardial disease involves suspicious but nonspecific findings during clinical examination and in screen tests. The suspicious findings must be confirmed through more invasive diagnostic approaches, in particular pericardioscopy with biopsy and cytological study.

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We describe a case of a patient with idiopathic pericardial effusion that during investigation proved to be a chylopericardium. Lymphangiography showed the chylopericardium to be due to partial aplasia of the thoracic duct. A brief review the etiology, clinical feature, diagnostic procedures and therapeutic possibilities of chylopericardium is presented.

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PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular outcome in patients with the undetermined form of Chagas' disease and whether or not it is related to the infectious disease in the long-term. METHODS: One hundred and sixty patients were prospectively followed-up at three month intervals for up to 177 months. RESULTS: Twenty and three (14.4%) patients developed hypertension complicated by ischemic stroke in two (1.2%) and symptomatic heart failure in one (0.6%). Cardiac arrhythmias occurred in four (2.4%) patients corresponding to isolated ventricular ectopic beats in two (1.2%), isolated supraventricular ectopic beats in one (0.6%) and an isolated episode of acute atrial fibrillation in another (0.6%). Two (1.2%) patients developed symptoms of coronary artery disease, one of them had one episode of acute chest pain diagnosed as myocardial infarction and the other had chronic chest pain diagnosed as angina. CONCLUSION: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease occurring in the long-term follow-up of patients with the undetermined form of Chagas' disease. Cardiac rhythm disturbances and coronary artery disease were not more frequent than those generally found in a healthy population. These data confirm a favorable long-term prognosis in patients with the undetermined form of Chagas' disease.

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PURPOSE: To determine the value of pericardial biopsy as a complementary exam in the etiology of pericardial effusion. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively (from 1990 to 1997) 38 patients with pericardial effusion. The age ranged between 3 months and 79 years (mean 41.15 +/- 21.78 years). Pericardial biopsy was performed in all cases through a subxiphoid incision. RESULTS: In 4 patients (10.5%) the biopsy was able to define etiology, 2 had tuberculosis and 2 neoplasias (1 undetermined adenocarcinoma, 1 mesotelioma). In 34 patients the biopsy showed non-specific chronic pericarditis. CONCLUSION: Pericardial biopsy was not an effective method to determine the etiological diagnosis in pericardial effusion patients. We believe that we have to individualize the indication of pericardial biopsy especially if tuberculosis or neoplasia are suspected.

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OBJETIVO - Observar, num grupo de pacientes na forma indeterminada da doença de Chagas, o aparecimento de doenças cardiovasculares e sua possível relação com a doença de base. MÉTODOS - Foram seguidos, prospectivamente, 160 pacientes por até 177 meses com avaliaçöes clínicas trimestrais. RESULTADOS - Tornaram-se hipertensos 23 (14,4 'por cento') pacients, sendo 21 (13,2 'por cento') com pressão arterial diastólica <110mmHg. Duas pacientes (1,2 'por cento') hipertensas tiveram acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico (AVCI). Uma (0,6 'por cento') paciente teve hemorragia meníngea por ruptura de aneurisma cerebral. Quatro (2,4 'por cento') pacientes apresentaram arritmia clinicamente, dois (1,2 'por cento') extra-sístoles ventriculares, um (0,6 'por cento') extra-sístoles supra-ventriculares e um (0,6 'por cento') fibrilação atrial aguda. Dois (1,2 'por cento') pacientes desenvolveram coronariopatias comprovada angiograficamente, um (0,6 'por cento') com infarto agudo do miocárdio, outro com angina estável. Um (0,6 'por cento') paciente desenvolveu sinais e sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca, juntamente com o aparecimento de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS). CONCLUSÄO - A doença cardiovascular mais freqüente foi a HAS. Duas hipertensas apresentaram AVCI. As arritmias observadas não foram mais freqüentes que na população normal e a coronariopatia também ocorreu raramente, confirmando um bom prognóstico clínico a longo prazo desse grupo de pacientes.

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We studied the incidence of AF in patients with endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) and its influence on prognosis and associated clinical events. One hundred and sixty consecutive patients with EMF were followed for a mean period of 4 years. Their mean age was 39.7 years. There were 114 women. During follow-up there were 56 deaths. Eighty-eight patients (55%) were submitted to surgical intervention. AF was observed in 58 cases (36.2%). The presence of AF was associated with a greater prevalence of dyspnea, peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, lower right ventricular systolic pressure (37.8 vs 45.6 mmHg, P=0.0392), and greater incidence of tricuspid regurgitation (86.0 vs 63.2%, P=0.004). AF was more frequent among patients in whom the disease involved the right ventricle, particularly those with intense fibrosis. Overall, patients with AF had a higher mortality rate than those who did not have AF (43.1 vs 30.3%, P=0.0195), but among those submitted to surgery, AF did not have an impact on survival. In conclusion, AF is frequent among patients with EMF. It is more prevalent among patients with right ventricular involvement and its presence is associated with a greater incidence of heart failure. AF is associated with worse prognosis, but surgery potentially reverses this bad evolution.

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