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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Sleeping hearts: The role of the heart in sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis)
Tropical Medicine and International Health, Volume 12, No. 12, Year 2007
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Description
Objectives: To estimate the frequency and evolution of heart involvement in human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) using electrocardiogram (ECG) findings; to describe these findings and to assess the frequency and clinical relevance of symptoms and signs before and after treatment. Methods: In a prospective cohort study ECG findings, signs and symptoms consistent with heart failure and cardiac laboratory parameters were studied at baseline, 2 days after the end of treatment and 3 months later. Results: Major ECG alterations were significantly more frequent in HAT patients than in healthy controls (71% vs. 18%; P < 0.001); 31% were low voltage changes, 34% were repolarization changes. ECG signs of necrosis and conduction problems were rare. Symptoms consistent with heart failure such as exertional dyspnoea (19% vs. 1.7%; P = 0.002) or palpitations (18% vs. 5%; P = 0.28) occurred more frequently in patients than in controls. The median NT-proBNP was significantly higher in HAT patients than in controls (85.2 vs. 28 pg/ml; P < 0.001). Troponin levels were normal. At the end of treatment repolarization changes appeared or worsened in 33.4%. Such changes improved or disappeared at follow-up in 33.1% of the patients. Conclusions: Cardiac involvement documented by ECG alterations is common in HAT patients, but cardiopathy rarely causes severe congestive heart failure and subsides after treatment. ECG alterations immediately after treatment and their improvement 3 months later may be the result of a treatment-induced inflammatory reaction. © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Blum, Johannes A.
Switzerland, Allschwil
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Swiss Tph
Burri, Christian
Switzerland, Allschwil
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Swiss Tph
Hatz, Christoph F.R.
Switzerland, Allschwil
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Swiss Tph
Kazumba, Leon
Democratic Republic Congo
Clinique Universitaire Kinshasa
Mangoni, Patrick
Democratic Republic Congo, Kinshasa
Hôpital Evangélique de Vanga
Zellweger, Michael Johannes
Switzerland, Basel
Universitätsspital Basel
Statistics
Citations: 47
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01948.x
ISSN:
13602276
e-ISSN:
13653156
Research Areas
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative