Use of tissue doppler imaging for the early detection of myocardial dysfunction in patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas disease

Effects of lung resection on heart structure and function: A tissue Doppler ultrasound survey of 43 cases

Changes in heart structure and function after lung resection in patients with lung cancer are challenging to manage. Therefore, a non-invasive and reliable measurement tool to gauge such changes is critical. The purpose of the present study was to compare cardiological changes before and after lung resection using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). A total of 43 patients (19 men and 24 women) with primary non-small cell lung cancer (n=37) and metastatic cancer in the lungs (n=6) were enrolled in the study.nTDI was used to determine the thickness of the ascending aorta, the open size of the ascending valve, the anterior-oposterior diameters of the left atrium and left ventricle, and the thickness of the ventricular septum and right ventricle before and after lung resection. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), pulmonary valve flow rate, tricuspid annular or mitral leaflet tip early (E) peak/late (A) diastolic blood flow velocities, tricuspid regurgitation flow, the lateral mitral annulus early (e') diastolic velocity and mitral E/e' ratio were used to determine LV filling pressure. Results revealed no significant differences between male and female patients in terms of the open size of the ascending valve, the anterior-posterior diameter of the left ventricle and the mitral E/e' ratio. Significant differences were found in the width of the ascending aorta, anterior-posterior diameter of the left atrium, width of the LV septum and right ventricular (RV) diameter before and after lung resection. Finally, there were significantchanges in EF and tricuspid pressure. The results indicated that TDI was useful as a non-invasive method for assessing left and right heart function following lung resection. The LV and RV dimensions were affected, but LV filling pressure was preserved after lobectomy.

New Biomarker in Chagas Disease: Extracellular Vesicles Isolated from Peripheral Blood in Chronic Chagas Disease Patients Modulate the Human Immune Response

Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is a major public health problem. It was initially restricted to Latin America, but it is now expanding globally. Host and pathogen interactions are crucial in the establishment of disease, and since 1970, it has been known that eukaryotic cells release extracellular vesicles (EVs), which in turn have an important role in intercellular communication in physiological and pathological conditions. Our study proposed to characterize and compare circulating EVs isolated from the plasma of chronic Chagas disease (CCD) patients and controls. For this, peripheral blood was collected from patients and controls, and mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and stimulated with parasite EVs, showing that patient cells released fewer EVs than control cells. Then, after plasma separation followed by EV total shedding enrichment, the samples were subjected to ultracentrifugation to isolate the circulating EVs, which then had their size and concentration characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). This showed that patients had a lower concentration of circulating EVs while there were no differences in size, corroborating the in vitro data. Additionally, circulating EVs were incubated with THP-1 cells (macrophages) that, after the interaction, had their supernatant analyzed by ELISA for cytokine detection. In relation to their ability to induce cytokine production, the CCD patient EVs were able to induce a differential production of IFN-γ and IL-17 in relation to controls, with differences being more evident in earlier/less severe stages of the disease. In summary, a decreased concentration of circulating EVs associated with differential activation of the immunological system in patients with CCD is related to parasite persistence and the establishment of chronic disease. It is also a potential biomarker for monitoring disease progression.

Speckle tracking echocardiography in the indeterminate form of Chagas disease

BACKGROUND

Chagas disease is one of the most common diseases in Latin-America, and cardiac involvement is a significant cause of death. Assessment of myocardial strain may detect early myocardial damage.

OBJECTIVES

To determine differences in longitudinal strain using speckle tracking to assess regional and global left ventricular function in patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas disease, in comparison with a control group.

METHODS

This is a retrospective matched case-control study, conducted in a single center. We evaluated 45 adult patients with Chagas disease, diagnosed with 2 serological methods, without evidence of cardiac involvement, who were compared with 45 healthy control subjects, who were sex- and age-matched. All patients underwent Doppler echocardiography and longitudinal strain with speckle tracking.

RESULTS

Median age was 59 years, and 60% were female. Echocardiographic parameters were similar in patients with Chagas and control subjects. In patients with Chagas, global strain differed significantly from that of control subjects (-17 vs -20.3, P < .001). Segmental strain showed 7 abnormal segments in patients with Chagas (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas disease, global and segmental longitudinal peak systolic strain is reduced compared with healthy subjects, thus suggesting that it could be a sensitive technique to detect early myocardial damage. These findings could provide useful information regarding the pathophysiology of cardiac involvement and understand whether they might have prognostic usefulness or help develop strategies to modify the course and prognosis of patients with Chagas disease. A longitudinal prospective study would be necessary to validate our findings.

COVID-19: Implications for People with Chagas Disease

As the global COVID-19 pandemic advances, it increasingly impacts those vulnerable populations who already bear a heavy burden of neglected tropical disease. Chagas disease (CD), a neglected parasitic infection, is of particular concern because of its potential to cause cardiac, gastrointestinal, and other complications which could increase susceptibility to COVID-19. The over one million people worldwide with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy require special consideration because of COVID-19’s potential impact on the heart, yet the pandemic also affects treatment provision to people with acute or chronic indeterminate CD. In this document, a follow-up to the WHF-IASC Roadmap on CD, we assess the implications of coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of CD. Based on the limited evidence available, we provide preliminary guidance for testing, treatment, and management of patients affected by both diseases, while highlighting emerging healthcare access challenges and future research needs.

Clinical significance of tissue Doppler imaging in chronic Chagas disease

INTRODUCTION

Chagas disease (ChD) is one of the main parasitic diseases in Latin-America. Its heart involvement is the most important cause of death. The aim of this study is to evaluate if Doppler Tissue Imaging (DTI) may have a predictive value for later events in subjects with chronic ChD.

METHODS

we analyses DTI variables of 543 patients with chronic ChD for the evaluation of predicting factors of events. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were considered as stroke, heart failure resistant to treatment, sustained ventricular tachycardia, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, sudden death, and cardiovascular death. The following findings were also included in total evens: heart failure, bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmia, new conduction system abnormalities, and new echocardiographic abnormalities. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression was used in order to assess the Doppler and DTI parameters predicting events. Variables with a P-value ≤ .5 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

In patients with chronic ChD, the analysis of DTI parameters showed that S' wave and E' wave of the lateral wall of the left ventricle were significant predictors of MACE (OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.71-0.96; P-value: .015 and OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.66-0.98; P-value: .031, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that patients with chronic ChD who had events showed significantly lower parameters in the DTI. What is more, this study showed that even lower DTI parameters are significant predictors of events.