An update on the management of Chagas cardiomyopathy

References

• Control of Chagas disease. World Health Organ. Tech. Rep. Ser.905, i-109 (2002).
   Google Scholar
• Rocha MO, Ribeiro AL, Teixeira MM. Clinical management of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Front Biosci.8, e44–e54 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chagas’ disease – an epidemic that can no longer be ignored. Lancet368(9536), 619 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• PAHO. Chagas disease: fact sheet and poster (2007).
   Google Scholar
• Wilson LS, Strosberg AM, Barrio K. Cost–effectiveness of Chagas disease interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean: Markov models. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.73(5), 901–910 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Dias JC. The treatment of Chagas disease (South American trypanosomiasis). Ann. Intern. Med.144(10), 772–774 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Dias JC. [Notes about of Trypanosoma cruzi and yours bio-ecology characteristics with agents of the transmission by meals]. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.39(4), 370–375 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chagas disease after organ transplantation – Los Angeles, California, 2006. Morb. Mortal. Wkly Rep.55(29), 798–800 (2006).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Herwaldt BL. Laboratory-acquired parasitic infections from accidental exposures. Clin. Microbiol. Rev.14(4), 659–88 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Schofield CJ, Jannin J, Salvatella R. The future of Chagas disease control. Trends Parasitol.22(12), 583–588 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yamagata Y, Nakagawa J. Control of Chagas disease. Adv. Parasitol.61, 129–165 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Dias JC. Chagas disease: successes and challenges. Cad. Saude Publica22(10), 2020–2021 (2006).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Moncayo A. Chagas disease: current epidemiological trends after the interruption of vectorial and transfusional transmission in the Southern Cone countries. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz98(5), 577–591 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Costa Rocha MO, Correia PC, Barros MV, Torres RM, Ribeiro AL, Teixeira MM. Cardiovascular function in elderly patients with chronic chagasic cardiopathy. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.36(5), 545–550 (2003).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Lima-Costa MF, Barreto SM, Guerra HL. Chagas’ disease among older adults: branches or mainstream of the present burden of Trypanosoma cruzi infection? Int. J. Epidemiol.31(3), 688–689 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lima e Costa MF, Barreto SM, Guerra HL, Firmo JO, Uchoa E, Vidigal PG. Ageing with Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a community where the transmission has been interrupted: the Bambui Health and Ageing Study (BHAS). Int. J. Epidemiol.30(4), 887–893 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Blood donor screening for Chagas disease – United States, 2006–2007. Morb. Mortal. Wkly Rep.56(7), 141–143 (2007).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Garraud O, Andreu G, Elghouzzi MH, Laperche S, Lefrere JJ. Measures to prevent transfusion-associated protozoal infections in non-endemic countries. Travel. Med. Infect. Dis.5(2), 110–112 (2007).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• [Brazilian Consensus on Chagas disease]. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.38(Suppl. 3), 7–29 (2005).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ferreira MS, Nishioka SA, Silvestre MT, Borges AS, Nunes-Araujo FR, Rocha A. Reactivation of Chagas’ disease in patients with AIDS: report of three new cases and review of the literature. Clin. Infect. Dis.25(6), 1397–1400 (1997).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sartori AM, Ibrahim KY, Nunes Westphalen EV et al. Manifestations of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) in patients with HIV/AIDS. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol.101(1), 31–50 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Prata A. Clinical and epidemiological aspects of Chagas disease. Lancet Infect. Dis.1(2), 92–100 (2001).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Rocha MO. [Indeterminate form of Chagas disease: considerations about diagnosis and prognosis]. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.31(3), 301–314 (1998).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Dias JC. The indeterminate form of human chronic Chagas’ disease. A clinical epidemiological review. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.22(3), 147–156 (1989).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Barros MV, Rocha MO, Ribeiro AL, Machado FS. Doppler tissue imaging to evaluate early myocardium damage in patients with undetermined form of Chagas’ disease and normal echocardiogram. Echocardiography18(2), 131–136 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marin-Neto JA, Almeida Filho OC, Pazin-Filho A, Maciel BC. [Indeterminate form of Chagas’ disease. Proposal of new diagnostic criteria and perspectives for early treatment of cardiomyopathy]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.79(6), 623–627 (2002).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Moraes RS, Ribeiro JP et al. Parasympathetic dysautonomia precedes left ventricular systolic dysfunction in Chagas disease. Am. Heart J.141(2), 260–265 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Ferreira LM, Oliveira E, Cruzeiro PC, Torres RM, Rocha MO. Active orthostatic stress and respiratory sinus arrhythmia in patients with Chagas’ disease with preserved left ventricular global systolic function. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.83(1), 40–44 (2004).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Pazin-Filho A, Romano MM, Almeida-Filho OC et al. Minor segmental wall motion abnormalities detected in patients with Chagas’ disease have adverse prognostic implications. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res.39(4), 483–487 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Espinosa R, Carrasco HA, Belandria F et al. Life expectancy analysis in patients with Chagas’ disease: prognosis after one decade (1973–1983). Int. J. Cardiol.8(1), 45–56 (1985).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marin-Neto JA, Cunha-Neto E, Maciel BC, Simoes MV. Pathogenesis of chronic Chagas heart disease. Circulation115(9), 1109–1123 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Higuchi MD, Ries MM, Aiello VD et al. Association of an increase in CD8+ T cells with the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi antigens in chronic, human, chagasic myocarditis. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.56(5), 485–489 (1997).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jones EM, Colley DG, Tostes S, Lopes ER, Vnencak-Jones CL, McCurley TL. Amplification of a Trypanosoma cruzi DNA sequence from inflammatory lesions in human chagasic cardiomyopathy. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.48(3), 348–357 (1993).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Tarleton RL. Parasite persistence in the aetiology of Chagas disease. Int. J. Parasitol.31(5–6), 550–554 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Soares MB, Pontes-de-Carvalho L, Ribeiro-dos-Santos R. The pathogenesis of Chagas’ disease: when autoimmune and parasite-specific immune responses meet. An. Acad. Bras. Cienc.73(4), 547–559 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Teixeira VP, Araujo MB, Dos Reis MA et al. Possible role of an adrenal parasite reservoir in the pathogenesis of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi myocarditis. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg.87(5), 552–554 (1993).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Miles MA, Cedillos RA, Povoa MM, de Souza AA, Prata A, Macedo V. Do radically dissimilar Trypanosoma cruzi strains (zymodemes) cause Venezuelan and Brazilian forms of Chagas’ disease? Lancet1(8234), 1338–1340 (1981).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rossi MA, Ramos SG, Bestetti RB. Chagas’ heart disease: clinical-pathological correlation. Front Biosci.8, e94–e109 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bogliolo L. [Anatomic causes of cardiac insufficiency in chronic chagasic cardiopathy (myocarditis) studied in comparison to anatomic causes of cardiac insufficiency in other cardiopathies. Part I]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.29, 419–424 (1976).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Bogliolo L. [Anatomic causes of cardiac insufficiency in chronic chagasic cardiopathy (myocarditis) studied in comparison to anatomic causes of cardiac insufficiency in other cardiopathies. Part II]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.29, 479–483 (1976).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rassi A Jr., Rassi A, Rassi SG. Predictors of mortality in chronic Chagas disease: a systematic review of observational studies. Circulation115(9), 1101–1108 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Carrasco HA, Parada H, Guerrero L, Duque M, Duran D, Molina C. Prognostic implications of clinical, electrocardiographic and hemodynamic findings in chronic Chagas’ disease. Int. J. Cardiol.43(1), 27–38 (1994).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mady C, Cardoso RH, Barretto AC, da Luz PL, Bellotti G, Pileggi F. Survival and predictors of survival in patients with congestive heart failure due to Chagas’ cardiomyopathy. Circulation90(6), 3098–3102 (1994).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Salles G, Xavier S, Sousa A, Hasslocher-Moreno A, Cardoso C. Prognostic value of QT interval parameters for mortality risk stratification in Chagas’ disease: results of a long-term follow-up study. Circulation108(3), 305–312 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Viotti R, Vigliano C, Lococo B et al. [Clinical predictors of chronic chagasic myocarditis progression]. Rev. Esp. Cardiol.58(9), 1037–1044 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Leite LR, Fenelon G, Simoes A Jr, Silva GG, Friedman PA, de Paola AA. Clinical usefulness of electrophysiologic testing in patients with ventricular tachycardia and chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy treated with amiodarone or sotalol. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol.14(6), 567–573 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Silva RM, Tavora MZ, Gondim FA, Metha N, Hara VM, Paola AA. Predictive value of clinical and electrophysiological variables in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.75(1), 33–47 (2000).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rassi A Jr, Rassi A, Little WC et al. Development and validation of a risk score for predicting death in Chagas’ heart disease. N. Engl. J. Med.355(8), 799–808 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rocha MO, Ribeiro AL. A risk score for predicting death in Chagas’ heart disease. N. Engl. J. Med.355(23), 2488–2489 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Leiby DA, Wendel S, Takaoka DT, Fachini RM, Oliveira LC, Tibbals MA. Serologic testing for Trypanosoma cruzi: comparison of radioimmunoprecipitation assay with commercially available indirect immunofluorescence assay, indirect hemagglutination assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. J. Clin. Microbiol.38(2), 639–642 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chiari E, Dias JC, Lana M, Chiari CA. Hemocultures for the parasitological diagnosis of human chronic Chagas’ disease. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.22(1), 19–23 (1989).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Galvao LM, Cancado JR, Rezende DF, Krettli AU. Hemocultures from chronic Chagasic patients using EDTA or heparin as anticoagulants. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res.22(7), 841–843 (1989).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marcon GE, Andrade PD, de Albuquerque DM et al. Use of a nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) to detect Trypanosoma cruzi in blood samples from chronic chagasic patients and patients with doubtful serologies. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis.43(1), 39–43 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Portela-Lindoso AA, Shikanai-Yasuda MA. [Chronic Chagas’ disease: from xenodiagnosis and hemoculture to polymerase chain reaction]. Rev. Saude Publica37(1), 107–115 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Maldonado C, Albano S, Vettorazzi L et al. Using polymerase chain reaction in early diagnosis of re-activated Trypanosoma cruzi infection after heart transplantation. J. Heart Lung Transplant.23(12), 1345–1348 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Schijman AG, Vigliano C, Burgos J et al. Early diagnosis of recurrence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection by polymerase chain reaction after heart transplantation of a chronic Chagas’ heart disease patient. J. Heart Lung Transplant.19(11), 1114–1117 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bestetti RB, Ariolli MT, do Carmo JL et al. Clinical characteristics of acute myocardial infarction in patients with Chagas’ disease. Int. J. Cardiol.35(3), 371–376 (1992).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Barros MV, Machado FS, Ribeiro AL, Costa Rocha MO. Detection of early right ventricular dysfunction in Chagas’ disease using Doppler tissue imaging. J. Am. Soc. Echocardiogr.15(10 Pt 2), 1197–1201 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marin-Neto JA, Marzullo P, Sousa AC et al. Radionuclide angiographic evidence for early predominant right ventricular involvement in patients with Chagas’ disease. Can. J. Cardiol.4(5), 231–236 (1988).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nunes MC, Barbosa MM, Brum VA, Rocha MO. Morphofunctional characteristics of the right ventricle in Chagas’ dilated cardiomyopathy. Int. J. Cardiol.94(1), 79–85 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Barros MV, Machado FS, Ribeiro AL, Rocha MO. Diastolic function in Chagas’ disease: an echo and tissue Doppler imaging study. Eur. J. Echocardiogr.5(3), 182–188 (2004).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rassi A Jr, Rassi SG, Rassi A. Sudden death in Chagas’ disease. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.76(1), 75–96 (2001).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Martinelli FM, De Siqueira SF, Moreira H et al. Probability of occurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in Chagas’ disease versus non-Chagas’ disease. Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol.23(11 Pt 2), 1944–1946 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sternick EB, Martinelli M, Sampaio R et al. Sudden cardiac death in patients with chagas heart disease and preserved left ventricular function. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol.17(1), 113–116 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Dias JC, Kloetzel K. The prognostic value of the electrocardiographic features of chronic Chagas’ disease. Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Sao Paulo10(3), 158–162 (1968).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Rocha MO, Barros MV, Rodrigues AR, Machado FS. A narrow QRS does not predict a normal left ventricular function in Chagas’ disease. Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol.23(11 Pt 2), 2014–2017 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rincon LG, Rocha MO, Pires MT et al. [Clinical profile of Chagas and non-Chagas’ disease patients with cardiac pacemaker]. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.39(3), 245–249 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nunes MC, Barbosa MM, Rocha MO. Peculiar aspects of cardiogenic embolism in patients with Chagas’ cardiomyopathy: a transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic study. J. Am. Soc. Echocardiogr.18(7), 761–767 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Carod-Artal FJ, Vargas AP, Horan TA, Nunes LG. Chagasic cardiomyopathy is independently associated with ischemic stroke in Chagas disease. Stroke36(5), 965–970 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Carod-Artal FJ, Vargas AP, Melo M, Horan TA. American trypanosomiasis (Chagas’ disease): an unrecognised cause of stroke. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry74(4), 516–518 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kuschnir E, Sgammini H, Castro R, Evequoz C, Ledesma R, Brunetto J. [Evaluation of cardiac function by radioisotopic angiography, in patients with chronic Chagas cardiopathy]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.45(4), 249–256 (1985).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Carrasco HA, Guerrero L, Parada H, Molina C, Vegas E, Chuecos R. Ventricular arrhythmias and left ventricular myocardial function in chronic chagasic patients. Int. J. Cardiol.28(1), 35–41 (1990).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Viotti R, Vigliano C, Lococo B et al. Long-term cardiac outcomes of treating chronic Chagas disease with benznidazole versus no treatment: a nonrandomized trial. Ann. Intern. Med.144(10), 724–734 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Benchimol Barbosa PR. Noninvasive prognostic markers for cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmia in long-term follow-up of subjects with chronic Chagas’ disease. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res.40(2), 167–178 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hunt SA, Abraham WT, Chin MH et al. ACC/AHA 2005 guideline update for the diagnosis and management of chronic heart failure in the adult: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Update the 2001 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Heart Failure): developed in collaboration with the American College of Chest Physicians and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation112(12), e154–e235 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bocchi EA, Vilas-Boas F, Perrone S et al. I Latin American guidelines for the assessment and management of decompensated heart failure. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.85(Suppl. 3), 49–94 (2005).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Maguire JH, Hoff R, Sherlock I et al. Cardiac morbidity and mortality due to Chagas’ disease: prospective electrocardiographic study of a Brazilian community. Circulation75(6), 1140–1145 (1987).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Barros MV, Costa Rocha MO, Ribeiro AL, Machado FS. Tissue Doppler imaging enables the identification of diastolic dysfunction of pseudonormal pattern in Chagas’ disease. J. Am. Soc. Echocardiogr.14(5), 353–359 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Barros MV, Ribeiro AL, Machado FS, Rocha MO. Doppler tissue imaging to assess systolic function in Chagas’ disease. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.80(1), 36–5 (2003).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Barros MVL, Rocha MOC, Riberio ALP, Machado FS. Tissue Doppler imaging in the evaluation of the regional diastolic function in Chagas’ disease. Eur. J. Echocardiogr.2(2), 94–99 (2001).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Silva CE, Ferreira LD, Peixoto LB et al. [Evaluation of segmentary contractility in Chagas’ disease by using the integral of the myocardial velocity gradient (myocardial strain) obtained through tissue Doppler echocardiography]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.84(4), 285–291 (2005).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Perez AA, Ribeiro AL, Barros MV et al. Value of the radiological study of the thorax for diagnosing left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas’ disease. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.80(2), 208–7 (2003).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Barbosa MM, Nunes MD, Ribeiro AL, Barral MM, Rocha MO. N-terminal proBNP levels in patients with Chagas disease: a marker of systolic and diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. Eur. J. Echocardiogr.8(3), 204–212 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, dos Reis AM, Barros MV et al. Brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas’ disease. Lancet360(9331), 461–462 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Reis AM, Teixeira MM, Rocha MO. Brain natriuretic peptide in Chagas’ disease: further insights. Lancet362(9380), 333 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Teixeira MM, Reis AM et al. Brain natriuretic peptide based strategy to detect left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas disease: a comparison with the conventional approach. Int. J. Cardiol.109(1), 34–40 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Talvani A, Rocha MO, Cogan J et al. Brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular dysfunction in chagasic cardiomyopathy. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz99(6), 645–649 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Talvani A, Rocha MO, Cogan J et al. Brain natriuretic peptide measurement in Chagas heart disease: marker of ventricular dysfunction and arrhythmia. Int. J. Cardiol.100(3), 503–504 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Grupi CJ, Moffa PJ, Barbosa SA et al. Holter monitoring in Chagas’ heart disease. Sao Paulo Med. J.113(2), 835–840 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Martinelli FM, Sosa E, Nishioka S, Scanavacca M, Bellotti G, Pileggi F. Clinical and electrophysiologic features of syncope in chronic chagasic heart disease. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol.5(7), 563–570 (1994).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lombardi F, Malliani A, Pagani M, Cerutti S. Heart rate variability and its sympatho–vagal modulation. Cardiovasc. Res.32(2), 208–216 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Lombardi F, Sousa MR et al. Power-law behavior of heart rate variability in Chagas’ disease. Am. J. Cardiol.89(4), 414–418 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Lombardi F, Sousa MR, Rocha MO. Vagal dysfunction in Chagas disease. Int. J. Cardiol.103(2), 225–226 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ribeiro AL, Schmidt G, Sousa MR et al. Heart rate turbulence in Chagas disease. Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol.26(1 Pt 2), 406–410 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Tundo F, Lombardi F, Rocha MC et al. Heart rate turbulence and left ventricular ejection fraction in Chagas disease. Europace7(3), 197–203 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Makikallio TH, Barthel P, Schneider R et al. Prediction of sudden cardiac death after acute myocardial infarction: role of Holter monitoring in the modern treatment era. Eur. Heart J.26(8), 762–769 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• de Paola AA, Gomes JA, Terzian AB, Miyamoto MH, Martinez Fo EE. Ventricular tachycardia during exercise testing as a predictor of sudden death in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy and ventricular arrhythmias. Br. Heart J.74(3), 293–295 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rocha AL, Rocha MO, Teixeira BO et al. [Chronotropic-metabolic index in Chagas’ disease]. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.38(5), 373–376 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rocha AL, Lombardi F, Costa Rocha MO et al. Chronotropic incompetence and abnormal autonomic modulation in ambulatory Chagas disease patients. Ann. Noninvasive Electrocardiol.11(1), 3–11 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marin-Neto JA, Marzullo P, Marcassa C et al. Myocardial perfusion abnormalities in chronic Chagas’ disease as detected by thallium-201 scintigraphy. Am. J. Cardiol.69(8), 780–784 (1992).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Simoes MV, Pintya AO, Bromberg-Marin G et al. Relation of regional sympathetic denervation and myocardial perfusion disturbance to wall motion impairment in Chagas’ cardiomyopathy. Am. J. Cardiol.86(9), 975–981 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Simoes MV, Ayres EM, Santos JL et al. [Detection of myocardial ischemia in chronic Chagas disease patients with atypic precordial pain by exercise and Holter tests]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.60(5), 315–319 (1993).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rochitte CE, Nacif MS, Oliveira Junior AC et al. Cardiac magnetic resonance in Chagas’ disease. Artif. Organs31(4), 259–267 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rochitte CE, Oliveira PF, Andrade JM et al. Myocardial delayed enhancement by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Chagas’ disease: a marker of disease severity. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.46(8), 1553–1558 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Urbina JA. Chemotherapy of Chagas disease. Curr. Pharm. Des.8(4), 287–295 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Castro JA, de Mecca MM, Bartel LC. Toxic side effects of drugs used to treat Chagas’ disease (American trypanosomiasis). Hum. Exp. Toxicol.25(8), 471–479 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cancado JR. Long term evaluation of etiological treatment of Chagas disease with benznidazole. Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Sao Paulo44(1), 29–37 (2002).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• de Andrade AL, Zicker F, de Oliveira RM et al. Randomised trial of efficacy of benznidazole in treatment of early Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Lancet348(9039), 1407–1413 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sosa ES, Segura EL, Ruiz AM, Velazquez E, Porcel BM, Yampotis C. Efficacy of chemotherapy with benznidazole in children in the indeterminate phase of Chagas’ disease. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.59(4), 526–529 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Andrade AL, Martelli CM, Oliveira RM et al. Short report: benznidazole efficacy among Trypanosoma cruzi-infected adolescents after a six-year follow-up. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.71(5), 594–597 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Villar JC, Marin-Neto JA, Ebrahim S, Yusuf S. Trypanocidal drugs for chronic asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev.1, CD003463 (2002).
   Google Scholar
• Reyes PA, Vallejo M. Trypanocidal drugs for late stage, symptomatic Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection). Cochrane Database Syst. Rev.4, CD004102 (2005).
   Google Scholar
• Teixeira AR, Calixto MA, Teixeira ML. Chagas’ disease: carcinogenic activity of the antitrypanosomal nitroarenes in mice. Mutat. Res.305(2), 189–196 (1994).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Andrade SG, Freitas LA, Peyrol S, Pimentel AR, Sadigursky M. Experimental chemotherapy of Trypanosoma cruzi infection: persistence of parasite antigens and positive serology in parasitologically cured mice. Bull. World Health Organ.69(2), 191–197 (1991).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Silva ED, Pereira VR, Gomes JA et al. Use of the EIE-recombinant-Chagas-biomanguinhos kit to monitor cure of human Chagas’ disease. J. Clin. Lab. Anal.16(3), 132–136 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sanchez G, Coronado X, Zulantay I et al. Monitoring the efficacy of specific treatment in chronic Chagas disease by polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry analysis. Parasite12(4), 353–357 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Britto C, Cardoso MA, Vanni CM et al. Polymerase chain reaction detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in human blood samples as a tool for diagnosis and treatment evaluation. Parasitology110(Pt 3) 241–247 (1995).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gomes ML, Galvao LM, Macedo AM, Pena SD, Chiari E. Chagas’ disease diagnosis: comparative analysis of parasitologic, molecular, and serologic methods. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.60(2), 205–210 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bestetti RB, Muccillo G. Clinical course of Chagas’ heart disease: a comparison with dilated cardiomyopathy. Int. J. Cardiol.60(2), 187–193 (1997).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Freitas HF, Chizzola PR, Paes AT, Lima AC, Mansur AJ. Risk stratification in a Brazilian hospital-based cohort of 1220 outpatients with heart failure: role of Chagas’ heart disease. Int. J. Cardiol.102(2), 239–247 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Khoury AM, Davila DF, Bellabarba G et al. Acute effects of digitalis and enalapril on the neurohormonal profile of chagasic patients with severe congestive heart failure. Int. J. Cardiol.57(1), 21–29 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Roberti RR, Martinez EE, Andrade JL et al. Chagas cardiomyopathy and captopril. Eur. Heart J.13(7), 966–970 (1992).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Botoni FA, Poole-Wilson PA, Ribeiro AL et al. A randomized trial of carvedilol after renin-angiotensin system inhibition in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Am. Heart J.153(4), 544–548 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Davila DF, Angel F, Arata, DB, Donis JH. Effects of metoprolol in chagasic patients with severe congestive heart failure. Int. J. Cardiol.85(2–3), 255–260 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Pitt B, Zannad F, Remme WJ et al. The effect of spironolactone on morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure. Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study Investigators. N. Engl. J. Med.341(10), 709–717 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Quiros FR, Morillo CA, Casas JP, Cubillos LA, Silva FA. CHARITY: Chagas Cardiomyopathy Bisoprolol Intervention Study: a randomized double-blind placebo force-titration controlled study with bisoprolol in patients with chronic heart failure secondary to Chagas cardiomyopathy [NCT00323973]. Trials7, 21 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rosa RF, Neto AS, Franken RA. Chagas’ disease and the use of implantable cardioverter–defibrillators in Brazil. Am. J. Geriatr. Cardiol.15(6), 372–376 (2006).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Bocchi EA, Fiorelli A. The paradox of survival results after heart transplantation for cardiomyopathy caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. First Guidelines Group for Heart Transplantation of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology. Ann. Thorac. Surg.71(6), 1833–1838 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Fiorelli AI, Stolf NA, Honorato R et al. Later evolution after cardiac transplantation in Chagas’ disease. Transplant. Proc.37(6), 2793–2798 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kawaguchi AT, Sugimachi M, Sunagawa K, Bergsland J, Koide S, Batista RJ. Improved left ventricular contraction and energetics in a patient with Chagas’ disease undergoing partial left ventriculectomy. J. Card. Surg.16(1), 30–33 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Claus M, Beling M, Grohmann A, Borges AC, Baumann G. Long-term results after partial left ventriculectomy. Int. J. Cardiol.89 (2–3), 223–230 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Carvalho KA, Guarita-Souza LC, Hansen P et al. Cell transplantation after the coculture of skeletal myoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells in the regeneration of the myocardium scar: an experimental study in rats. Transplant. Proc.38(5), 1596–1602 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Guarita-Souza LC, Carvalho KA, Woitowicz V et al. Simultaneous autologous transplantation of cocultured mesenchymal stem cells and skeletal myoblasts improves ventricular function in a murine model of Chagas disease. Circulation114(1 Suppl.), I120–I124 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Soares MB, Lima RS, Rocha LL et al. Transplanted bone marrow cells repair heart tissue and reduce myocarditis in chronic chagasic mice. Am. J. Pathol.164(2), 441–447 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Vilas-Boas F, Feitosa GS, Soares MB et al. Bone marrow cell transplantation to the myocardium of a patient with heart failure due to Chagas’ disease. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.82(2), 185–184 (2004).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Staudt A, Hummel A, Ruppert J et al. Immunoadsorption in dilated cardiomyopathy: 6-month results from a randomized study. Am. Heart J.152(4), 712–716 (2006).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Labovsky V, Smulski CR, Gomez K, Levy G, Levin MJ. Anti-β1-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies in patients with chronic Chagas heart disease. Clin. Exp. Immunol.148(3), 440–449 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mendoza I, Guiniger A, Kushni E et al. [Consensus of the electrophysiology committee of "USCAS" on the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in Chagas disease]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.62(1), 41–43 (1994).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rassi JA, Gabriel RA, Gabriel RS, Rassi JL, Rassi A. [Ventricular arrhythmia in Chagas disease. Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic features]. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.65(4), 377–387 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Cardinalli-Neto A, Greco OT, Bestetti RB. Automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in Chagas’ heart disease patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol.29(5), 467–470 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Leite LR, Fenelon G, Paes AT, de Paola AA. The impact of syncope during clinical presentation of sustained ventricular tachycardia on total and cardiac mortality in patients with chronic chagasic heart disease. Arq. Bras. Cardiol.77(5), 439–452 (2001).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Doval HC, Nul DR, Grancelli HO, Perrone SV, Bortman GR, Curiel R. Randomised trial of low-dose amiodarone in severe congestive heart failure. Grupo de Estudio de la Sobrevida en la Insuficiencia Cardiaca en Argentina (GESICA). Lancet344(8921), 493–498 (1994).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Singh SN, Fletcher RD, Fisher SG et al. Amiodarone in patients with congestive heart failure and asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmia. Survival Trial of Antiarrhythmic Therapy in Congestive Heart Failure. N. Engl. J. Med.333(2), 77–82 (1995).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rassi A Jr, Rassi A, Little WC. Chagas’ heart disease. Clin. Cardiol.23(12), 883–889 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• d’Avila A, Splinter R, Svenson RH et al. New perspectives on catheter-based ablation of ventricular tachycardia complicating Chagas’ disease: experimental evidence of the efficacy of near infrared lasers for catheter ablation of Chagas’ VT. J. Interv. Card. Electrophysiol.7(1), 23–38 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gregoratos G, Abrams J, Epstein AE et al. ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 guideline update for implantation of cardiac pacemakers and antiarrhythmia devices: summary article: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (ACC/AHA/NASPE Committee to update the 1998 pacemaker guidelines). Circulation106(16), 2145–2161 (2002).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Sweeney MO, Hellkamp AS. Heart failure during cardiac pacing. Circulation113(17), 2082–2088 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nussenzveig I, Wajchemberg BL, Macruz R, Netto AS, Timoner J, do Serro Azul LG. [Embolic cerebral vascular accidents in chronic Chagas’ heart disease.]. Arq. Neuropsiquiatr.11(4), 386–402 (1953).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Schunemann HJ, Cook D, Grimshaw J et al. Antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy: from evidence to application: the Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy. Chest126(3 Suppl.), 688S–696S (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ansell J, Hirsh J, Poller L, Bussey H, Jacobson A, Hylek E. The pharmacology and management of the vitamin K antagonists: the Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy. Chest126(3 Suppl.), 204S–233S (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar