Role of parasites in the pathogenesis of Chagas' cardiomyopathy.

BRANDARIZ S.; SCHIJMAN A; VIGLIANO C; VIOTTI R; LEVIN MJ

LANCET

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 1996 vol. 347 p. 913 - 914

0140-6736

 We conclude that since parasite cells are rarely found in sites of myocardial inflammation, detection of parasite DNA closely associated with myocardial inflammatory foci may well imply an active and very efficient in situ breakdown of parasite cellular structures. The sensitivity of PCR is of importance in tracing the parasite, or parasite vestiges, where other techniques fail, and argues for its usefulness in understanding the nature of Chagas disease of the heart.