Emerging and under-recognized Chagas cardiomyopathy in non-endemic countries

Cortez, Joana; Providência, Rui; Ramos, Evelise; Valente, Cristina; Seixas, Jorge; Meruje, Manuela; Leitão‐Marques, António; Vieira, Antônio

doi:10.4330/wjc.v4.i7.234

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In most cases, the patients diagnosed in these areas are in the chronic indeterminate phase of the disease. Countries such as Spain, which receives many immigrants from Latin America, is considered to have the highest number of cases, with a present seroprevalence of 31% 2 , 15 . Hence, it is of paramount importance to perform serological screening of blood or organ donors from non-endemic areas considered at risk, as well as from endemic areas 3 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Chagas Disease Among Blood Donor Candidates in Triangulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Lopes

Ramos

Gómez-Hernández

et al. 2015

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite public health campaigns and epidemiological surveillance activities, Chagas disease remains a major health problem in Latin America. According to data from the World Health Organization, there are approximately 7-8 million people infected with Trypanosoma cruzi worldwide, a large percentage of which in Latin America. This study aims to examine the serological profile of blood donors in blood banks of Hemominas hematology center, in the town of Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The study sample consisted of 53,941 blood donors, which were grouped according to gender and age. Sample collections were performed from January 1991 to December 2011, and 277 donors (0.5%) were considered serologically ineligible due to Chagas disease. Analysis of data showed no significant difference between genders. As for age, the highest proportion of ineligible donors was from 40 to 49 years (30%), and there was a positive correlation between increasing age and the percentage of patients seropositive for Chagas disease. Therefore, adopting strategies that allow the safe identification of donors with positive serology for Chagas disease is essential to reduce or eliminate indeterminate serological results.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Chagas Disease Among Blood Donor Candidates in Triangulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Lopes

Ramos

Gómez-Hernández

et al. 2015

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Epidemiology of Chagas disease in Europe: many calculations, little knowledge

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chagas disease and its causative agent Trypanosoma cruzi are endemic in almost all countries in South and Middle America. Currently, there are more than 10 million affected people. It is the most common reason for heart failure and a frequent cause of intestinal problems in Latin America. The phenotype of the Chagas cardiomyopathy is varying. Dilative cardiomyopathy, often accompanied by an apical aneurysm is the most common finding in the end stage heart failure, but rhythm disorders like conduction blocks, ventricular or supraventricular forms of tachycardia or repolarization changes occur as well, mainly in the early stages. Migration of infected people leads to a distribution from the endemic countries to North America and Europe. Although more than 500,000 people of Latin American origin are currently living in Europe, Chagas disease is not considered as a public health problem, yet. Cases of transmission via blood donation, organ transplantation or from mother-to-child are reported for several European countries but there is no database for Germany. Current epidemiological data are mostly available from regional surveys from other countries or are extrapolated. Hence, there is a large variation in the estimated numbers on the incidence of Chagas. Robust and reliable data are lacking. This review gives an overview on the currently available data and calls for a German Chagas surveillance.

show abstract