Search

Abstract: The substantial immigration into Spain from endemic areas of Chagas disease such as Latin America has increased the number of potential donors of organs and tissues. In addition, an increasing number of patients with advanced Chagas heart disease may eventually be eligible to receive a heart transplant, a universally accepted therapeutic strategy for the advanced stages of this disease. Therefore, it is necessary to establish protocols for disease management. This document is intended to establish the guidelines to be followed when a potential donor or a tissue or organ recipient is potentially affected by Chagas disease and summarizes the action criteria against the possibility of Chagas disease transmission through the donation of organs, tissues, or hematopoietic stem cells and aims to help professionals working in this field. A single registry of transplants in Trypanosoma cruzi infected donors and/or recipients will provide and disseminate experience in this area, which has shown a low recorded incidence to date. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Chagas disease remains a major cause of mortality in several countries of Latin America and has become a potential public health problem in non-endemic countries as a result of migration flows. Cardiac involvement represents the main cause of mortality, but its diagnosis is still based on nonspecific criteria with poor sensitivity. Early identification of patients with cardiac involvement is desirable, since early treatment may improve prognosis. This study aimed to assess the role of diastolic dysfunction, abnormal myocardial strain and elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the early identification of cardiac involvement in Chagas disease. Methodology/Principal Findings: Fifty-four patients divided into 3 groups-group 1 (undetermined form: positive serology without ECG or 2D-echocardiographic abnormalities; N = 32), group 2 (typical ECG abnormalities of Chagas disease but normal 2D-echocardiography; N = 14), and group 3 (regional wall motion abnormalities, left ventricular [LV] end-diastolic diameter .55 mm or LV ejection fraction ,50% on echocardiography; N = 8)-and 44 control subjects were studied. Patients with significant non-cardiac diseases, other heart diseases and previous treatment with benznidazol were excluded. The median age was 37 (20-58) years; 40% were men. BNP levels, longitudinal and radial myocardial strain and LV diastolic dysfunction increased progressively from group 1 to 3 (p for trend ,0.01). Abnormal BNP levels (.37 pg/ml) were noted in 0%, 13%, 29% and 63% in controls and groups 1 to 3, respectively. Half of patients in the undetermined form had impaired relaxation patterns, whereas half of patients with ECG abnormalities suggestive of Chagas cardiomyopathy had normal diastolic function. In group 1, BNP levels were statistically higher in patients with diastolic dysfunction as compared to those with normal diastolic function (27±26 vs. 11±8 pg/ml, p = 0.03). Conclusion/Significance: In conclusion, the combination of diastolic function and BNP measurement adds important information that could help to better stratify patients with Chagas disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In May 2004, after launching a screening programme to detect Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the Latin American population, a case of congenital infection in a 2-year-old boy was discovered in Barcelona. Few cases of congenital transmission have been described in non-endemic areas and little is known about the epidemiological and clinical features of congenital Chagas disease in this context. The increase in Latin American immigrants in Europe and the USA requires greater epidemiological surveillance and appropriate diagnostic techniques for managing T. cruzi infections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is an endemic zoonosis in the American continent. Thanks to the successful implementation of national programs for reducing the vectorial infestation and the strict control of blood-borne transmission of Chagas disease, the relative importance of congenital transmission has recently increased. Nowadays, in areas without vectorial transmission, congenital transmission has become the main way by which the disease has spread. This article reviews current knowledge on Chagas disease, focusing on the congenital transmission route. The public health implications of the increasing number of T. cruzi-infected immigrants and congenital transmission in nonendemic areas is also analyzed.

Background: Chagas disease is no longer limited to Latin America and is becoming frequent in industrialised countries in Europe and United States., Methods: A descriptive study of Latin American immigrants in Barcelona attending two centres for imported diseases during a period of 3 years. The main outcome was the identification of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals in a non-endemic country and the characterization of their clinical and epidemiological features., Results: A total of 489 Latin American patients participated in the study. Forty-one percent were infected by T. cruzi, and the most frequent country of origin was Bolivia. All T. cruzi infected patients were in chronic stages of infection. 19% of cases had cardiac disorders and 9% had digestive disorders., Conclusions: A high percentage of participants in this study were infected by T. cruzi and various factors were found to be associated to the infection. It is important to improve clinical and epidemiological knowledge of T. cruzi infection in non-endemic countries and to develop appropriate screening and treatment protocols in these settings.