CHAGAS-DISEASE IN PREGNANCY

Chagas disease is a tropical disease now making its appearance in the United States as more immigration from Latin America occurs. Pregnant women with chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi may present with c ardiac or gastrointestinal symptoms and transmit the infection to thei r fetuses. Case: A 32-year-old Mexican woman presented with cardiac sy mptoms at 16 weeks' gestation. She was found to have a left anterior h emiblock on her electrocardiogram. Her indirect immunofluorescent anti body titer for T cruzi was positive at greater than 1:2048. Subsequent ly, she had a normal pregnancy and delivery. The infant's T cruzi immu nofluorescent antibody titer was 1:256 at birth and had not declined a t his 6-week follow-up. Conclusion: Obstetric care providers in the Un ited States need to be familiar with American trypanosomiasis because it may present during pregnancy. Serious maternal disease is possible, and perinatal transmission