High endothelial venules are found in hearts of patient with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy

pp 463-465

Abstract

To study aspects related to the production of lesions in human chronic chagasic cardiopathy, considering that there are evidences on the immunopathologic mechanisms involved in the damage of myocytes and of nervous structures, with presence of lymphocytes, macrophages and other cells of the immunologic system. Samples of cardiac tissue from 6 chagasic patients who died of a grade IV cardiopathy of that origin were studied with routine and cytochemical stains. In zones with active damage to myocytes, these were surrounded by infiltrated cells, mainly lymphocytes which reacted as glycoproteins' productors. In transverse sections lymphocytes were seen in the interior of some myocytes. In some zones of contractile myocardium and of fibrous tissue, some vessels similar to the "high endothelium" venules described in normal lymphatic tissues were found. These findings may be related to the immunopathologic mechanisms that intervene in the production of the chagasic myocardio neuropathy and open new questions, such as: is the high endothelium found in some vessels neoformed to facilitate an intense lymphocytary transit in the chagasic process?