Table 1. – Clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic findings.
| Non-CC-BD | CC-Non-Dys-BD | CC-Dys | Controls | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n=187 (38.6%) | n=46 (9.5%) | n=97 (20.2%) | n=153 (31.6%) | p-value | |
| Age (y) | 49 [41-58] | 50 [44-59] | 48.5 [43-54] | 48 [42-55] | 0.20 |
| Male, n (%) | 110 (58.8) | 29 (63) | 59 (60.2) | 89 (58.2) | 0.39 |
| Ejection fraction (%) | 63 [60-65] | 60 [55-65] | 30 [20-40] | 64 [60-65] | <0.001* |
| Cardiac biomarkers | |||||
| Galectin-3 (ng/mL) | 12.3 [10-15.4] | 12.0 [9.5-14.9] | 15.4 [11.8-19.8] | 13.8 [11.2-16.2] | <0.001† |
| NT-proBNP (pg/mL) | 40.6 [23.6-66.8] | 59 [35.0-109.1] | 748 [379.20-2223.41] | 27.5 [19.3-48.1] | <0.001‡ |
| Troponin | 0.012 [0.01-0.012] | 0.012 [0.012-0.015] | 0.021 [0.12-0.03] | 0.012 [0.012-0.012] | <0.001§ |
| Inflammatory markers | |||||
| TNF-α | 2.94 [1.64-4.59] | 3.02 [1.25-4.69] | 3.65 [2.57-5.52] | 2.84 [1.62-3.91] | 0.002# |
| IL-6 | 0.69 [0.32-1.63] | 0.77 [0.32-1.8] | 1.60 [0.64-3.13] | 1.14 [0.32-1.7] | <0.001 ** |
| IL-8 | 1.61 [0.95-2.79] | 1.53 [0.99-2.5] | 2.23 [1.38-3.2] | 1.44 [0.95-2.54] | 0.003†† |
| IL-10 | 1.28 [0.32-4] | 2.02 [0.32-4.11] | 4.37 [1.62-8.06] | 1.22 [0.32-3.35] | <0.001‡‡ |
| IFN-γ | 0.32 [0.32-0.64] | 0.32 [0.32-0.84] | 0.32 [0.32-1.07] | 0.32 [0.32-0.39] | 0.06 |
| Parasite load | |||||
| Parasite estimate per 20mL | 0.05 [0-2.5] | 0.68 [0.03-5.47] | 1.77 [0.16-5] | - | <0.001§§ |
p-values were reported for Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post-hoc hypothesis testing. Median [interquartile range] reported for all biomarkers tested. Non-CC-BD, blood donors without Chagas cardiomyopathy; CC-Non-Dys-BD, blood donors with Chagas cardiomyopathy; CC-Dys, Chagas cardiomyopathy patients with cardiac dysfunction; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL, interleukin; IFN, interferon. *Statistically significant difference in ejection fraction levels between Non-CC BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); CC-Non-Dys-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); CC-Non-Dys-BD/controls (p=0.042); CC-Dys/controls (p<0.001). †Statistically significant difference in Gal-3 levels between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); Non-CC-BD/controls (p=0.010); CC-Non-Dys-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); CC-Dys/controls (p=0.028). ‡Statistically significant difference in NT-proBNP levels between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); Non-CC-BD/controls (p=0.004); CC-Non-Dys-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); CC-Non-Dys-BD/controls (p<0.001); CC-Dys/controls (p<0.001). §Statistically significant difference in troponin levels between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p=0.024); Non-CC-BD/CC-controls (p<0.001); CC-Non-Dys-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); CC-Non-Dys-BD/controls (<0.001); CC-Dys/controls (p<0.001). #Statistically significant difference in TNF-α levels between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p=0.019); CC-Dys/controls (p<0.001). **Statistically significant difference in IL-6 levels between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); CC-Non-Dys-BD/CC-Dys (p=0.032); CC-Dys/controls (p=0.004). ††Statistically significant difference in IL-8 levels between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p=0.016); CC-Non-Dys-BD/CC-Dys (p=0.039); CC-Dys/controls (p=0.001). ‡‡Statistically significant difference in IL-10 levels between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p<0.001); CC-Non-Dys-BD/CC-Dys (p=0.001); CC-Dys/controls (p<0.001). §§Statistically significant difference in parasite estimate per 20mL between Non-CC-BD/CC-Dys (p=0.011); Non-CC-BD/controls (p<0.001).