Anti-gangliosides antibodies in Chagas' cardioneuropathy

GEA, SUSANA; MOTRAN, CRISTINA; ORDOÑEZ, PATRICIA; LADERACH, DIEGO; CERBAN, FABIO; CHIZZOLINI, CARLO; IOSA, DANIEL

International Journal of Angiology

Springer Link

Año: 1996 vol. 5 p. 196 - 196

1061-1711

hagas´ disease is one of the most common causes of congestive heart failure and sudden death in the world. It is manifested by cardiovascular, digestive, and autonomic nervous system disorders with lesion of the conduction system. We have studied the presence of IgG and IgM anti-gangliosides antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot blot immune stain in 34 patients with positive serology for Chagas´ disease, divided into three groups (G); GI: no cardiac symptoms, normal ECG, and chest X-ray; GII: arrhythmias, left anterior hemiblock (LAHB), complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB), ventricular premature beats (VPB), without signs or symptoms of congestive heart failure; GIII: arrhythmias, LAHB, CRBBB, VPB, congestive heart failure, and cardiomegaly. IgM anti-gangliosides was present only against GT1b in one patient of GI and in one of GII. It is interesting to point out that in Groups II and III patients with signs or symptoms of heart disease, the percentages