Inflammatory Autoimmunity Caused by Lymphoid Cells, Related to Chronic Cardiomyopathy in Patients with Chagas Disease

Chagas disease causes the death of over 12,000 people annually worldwide. Discovered in 1909, it had been infecting humans since 7000 BC. Chagas disease progresses through different stages, with the parasite residing intracellularly in the human body, multiplying and causing cellular damage in cardiac structures, leading to heart-related pathologies such as arrhythmias or heart failure. The objective of this research is to provide the scientific community with a historical overview of the various studies conducted on Chagas disease. Articles were reviewed in databases like Pubmed and Scielo, considering titles such as "chagas chronic cardiomyopathy" and "autoimmunity in chagas disease." Initially, a total of 2421 articles were gathered, with 2008 excluded for being over five years old. An additional 340 were discarded for not being classified as review articles, and 50 more were rejected as their abstracts did not contain relevant information. Ultimately, 23 reference documents, published between 2019 and 2024, were included, meeting the inclusion criteria set by the researcher. The research began with the historical foundations of the disease, exploring the scientific and biological study of its discoverer. Subsequent stages detail the long- term consequences of Chagas, such as chronic cardiomyopathy, and the studies on the disease's pathophysiology, understanding its impact on cardiac structures. Advances in treatment approval were described, highlighting their limited effectiveness in managing cardiomyopathy. Various diagnostic methods were also discussed, demonstrating how technology has enabled the diagnosis and management of the disease's progression in patients. This comprehensive review was achieved through a historical-logical approach to the literature.