by Galván IL, García M, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, Ortiga A, Sanz S, Molina I, Gascón J, Pinazo M-J. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012367
Summary: Chagas disease is a serious global health issue, with an estimated six million people currently infected with the disease. Some 30-40% of people living with Chagas disease may develop cardiac or digestive complications later in life, many years after first acquiring the infection. However, there remains a lack of knowledge concerning the extent of visceral involvement in people with chronic infection. The authors conducted a systematic methodology review to examine the different classifications used to describe organ involvement in chronic Chagas disease since 1909 and found a notable absence of any universally accepted classification system for cardiac and digestive involvement. Their review highlights the need for a standardized method to classify Chagas disease, which would help to simplify the study and treatment of the disease.
