▪ Lesion highly suggestive of CCC▪ Slightly more frequent in men▪ Unrelated to age and to
heart weight▪ Prevalence: 10 to 50%▪ Frequent site of thrombosis▪ Independent risk factor for
stroke▪ No characteristic ECG pattern▪ LV (82%), RV (9%), both (9%)▪ Pathogenesis poorly
understood: ischemia, autonomic imbalance, mechanical factors, myocarditis?▪ Identified by
echo, MRI, cineventriculography, and radioisotopic ventriculography

Abstract Background and Methods. Chagas' heart disease is believed to be rare in the
United States, although many persons from countries where the disease is endemic reside
here. We performed a retrospective case review and prospective follow-up of 25 patients
with Chagas' heart disease and no obstructive coronary artery disease on angiography.
Results. The patients mainly presented with symptomatic atrioventricular block, congestive
heart failure, anginal chest pain, sudden death averted by resuscitation, or sustained …