Cardiac Autonomic Control Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Chagas' Heart Disease

Figure 2

Parasympathetic abnormalities and cardiac remodelling in chagas disease; the heart rate response to atropine (HRRA) is indirectly related to left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDI). Thus, parasympathetic impairment is secondary to cardiac remodelling and dysfunction (● = patients with segmental myocardial dysfunction, normal HRRA, and no ventricular dilatation; ◆ = patients with abnormal HRRA and progressive ventricular dilatation). (see [22], adapted with permission form Elsevier).