The cardiological perspective: Francisco Laranja and research on Chagas' disease

Abstract

Francisco Laranja began working in cardiology when this was yet a fledgling specialty in Brazilian medicine. An expert in electrocardiography, he has gained national and international renown for his research conducted in Bambuí in the 1940s, which led to the clinical characterization of the cardiac profile of chronic cases of Chagas' disease. In this interview, Laranja talks about the development of the field of cardiology and electrocardiography in Brazil, his work at the Institute of Retirement and Pensions for Industrial Workers, his research in Bambuí, and his term as director of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute.