Sudden cardiac death in the indeterminate phase of Chagasʹ disease associated with acute infarction of the right carotid body

We recently came across a case of a patient in the indeterminate phase of Chagasʹ disease who died suddenly with cardiac arrhythmia associated with acute infarction of the right carotid body due to occlusive thrombosis in the glomic artery. Although the available data in this case do not offer definite evidence to support a cause-and-effect relationship between carotid body infarction and patientʹs sudden cardiac arrest, it is very likely that the acute infarction of the carotid body could be the distinct morphological counterpart of the functional disturbance. The infarction would affect the vagal-sympathetic interactions augmenting sympathetic action.