APICAL LEFT-VENTRICULAR ANEURYSMS AND CARDIAC PARASYMPATHETIC INNERVATION IN CHAGAS HEART-DISEASE

Left ventricular apical aneurysms are present in Chagasic patients who have normal cardiac parasympathetic innervation. Cardiac parasympathe tic abnormalities are found, in later stages of the disease, when diff use myocardial damage and ventricular dilatation are already present. The apical region of the left ventricle is also affected in several ac ute and chronic non-Chagasic cardiac diseases. Therefore, thinning of the left ventricular apex, with aneurysm formation, may be a non-speci fic myocardial sequelae, secondary to myocardial damage.