Pathogenesis of chronic Chagasʹ myocarditis: An overview

The evidence provided by both human and animal studies on chronic Chagasʹ heart disease suggests that the development of the chronic fibrosing myocarditis is related to progressive and additive focal cellular necrosis with associated inflammatory lymphomononuclear infiltrate, reactive and reparative myocardial fibrosis, surrounding myocyte hypertrophy. These processes may be initiated and perpetuated by alterations in the myocardial microcirculation and by autoimmune factors. These findings could foster future therapeutic strategies in the management of chronic chagasic patients to optimize the medical treatment and hopefully to improve prognosis.