The Presence and Extension of Myocardial Fibrosis in the Undetermined Form of Chagas' Disease: A Study Using Magnetic Resonance

Previous data has shown that patients in the indeterminate form of Chagas disease may present myocardial fibrosis as shown on through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, there is little information available regarding the degree of severity of myocardial fibrosis in these individuals. This variable has the potential to predict the evolution of Chagas' disease into its cardiac form. To describe the frequency and extent of myocardial fibrosis evaluated using an MRI in patients in the indeterminate form, and to compare it with other forms of the disease. Patients were admitted one after another. Their clinical history was collected and they were submitted to laboratory exams and an MRI. Sixty-one patients with Chagas' disease, with an average age of 58 ± 9 years old, 17 patients in the indeterminate form, 16 in the cardiac form without left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and 28 in the cardiac form with LV dysfunction were studied. P