Chagasic Cardiopathy

Abstract

An antibody reacting with endocardium, vascular structures and interstitium of striated muscle (EVI antibody), by the indirect immunofluorescence technique, was recently described in Chagas' disease. In the present report the identification of tissue structures responsible for the EVI reaction was studied by means of ultrastructural immunochemical methods. Positive reactions were observed in the plasma membrane of the heart and skeletal muscle fibers and endothelial cells of blood vessels. Absorption of positive sera with T. cruzi abolished both patterns observed by electron microscopic methods. These results are in agreement with observations performed with the indirect immunofluorescence technique.