Abstract

MONTES DE OCA, María et al. Alteraciones musculares periféricas en la enfermedad de Chagas. Gac Méd Caracas [online]. 2007, vol.115, n.1, pp.55-61. ISSN 0367-4762.

Chagas’ disease is still a problem in Venezuela and other Latin American countries, in spite of efforts to control the disease. Peripheral muscle alterations that contribute to decreased functional capacity in moderate to advanced Chagas’ disease patients are analyzed in the present work. Nineteen Chagas’ disease patients were studied, including cardio-respiratory evaluation, echocardiogram, exercise test and quadriceps muscle biopsy. The results showed 42 % patients with moderate to severe decrease of maximal oxygen consumption. Muscle biopsies presented morphologic and metabolic alterations, some related to functional capacity. Capillary vessel damage in muscle was similar to that found in autoimmune diseases. In conclusion, Chagas’ disease patients showed peripheral muscle alterations related to decreased functional capacity. The functional capacity changes may contribute to the severity of the disease and should be added to the evaluation of the patients.

Keywords : Chagas’ disease; Peripheral muscle.; Functional capacity; Maximal oxygen consumption; Metabolic alterations.