Abstract

MEDEI, Emiliano Horacio; NASCIMENTO, José Hamilton Matheus; PEDROSA, Roberto Coury  and  CARVALHO, Antônio Carlos Campos de. Role of autoantibodies in the physiopathology of chagas' disease. Arq. Bras. Cardiol. [online]. 2008, vol.91, n.4, pp. 281-286. ISSN 0066-782X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2008001600012.

Chagas' disease is a serious health problem in Latin America. Between 25 to 30% of the infected patients develop the chronic form of the disease, with progressive myocardial damage and often, sudden death. Adrenergic or cholinergic antibodies with G-protein coupled membrane receptor activity may be present in the sera of these patients. The present study discusses the etiology and the contribution of antibodies to the physiopathology of Chagas' disease.

Keywords : Antibodies; Chagas' disease [physiopathology].