Table 1. Characterization of the subjects included in the study.
| Clinical characterization | Enrolled subjects (numbers) | Age in years (mean ± SD) | Sex Males (%) |
| Salta, Argentina a | |||
| Seropositive for T. cruzi-specific antibodies | |||
| Chagasic 0 | n = 54 | 51.3±7.6 | 47 (40%) |
| Chagasic 1 | n = 30 | 47.6±12 | 15 (50%) |
| Chagasic 2 | n = 17 | 53.6±12.9 | 10 (55%) |
| Chagasic 3 | n = 15 | 52.3±8.2 | 5 (33%) |
| Seronegative for T. cruzi-specific antibodies | |||
| Healthy, no disease | n = 20 | 35±16.2 | 9 (45%) |
| Non-endemic area b | |||
| Seronegative, healthy, no disease | n = 25 | 39±14.7 | 10 (40%) |
| Seronegative, other Cardiomyopathy | n = 102 | 59±18.2 | 61 (60%) |
a
Subjects were screened for T. cruzi-specific antibodies by Wiener Chagatest-ELISA and Wiener Chagatest-HAI kits. Clinical exam included physical exam, electrocardiography and echocardiography.
b
Seronegative subjects from non-endemic areas were screened for T. cruzi-specific antibody response. Seronegative/cardiac patients exhibiting clinical symptoms were identified based upon blood levels of NT-proBNP to be >2000 pg/ml (normal <450 pg/ml).