Rheumatic heart disease

Question 1

Definition

Answer 1

Inflammatory changes of the heart cells and major joints due to the inflammatory response to a Beta streptococcal infection

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

• Rheumatic fever : leads to inflammatory changes in the heart. In particular leads to a combined reaction of antibodies and T cells in response to the streptococcal infection
• ASCHOFF cells: main target of inflammatory cells, necrosis

Question 3

signs

Answer 3

• Pancarditis leads to valve problems
• inflammation of the endocardium leads to fibrinoid necrosis of the chordae tendinae and the valve cusps
• fibrotic heart disease leads to leaflet thickening, commissural shortening and fusion, thickening and shortening of the chord tendinae
• heart murmurs: mitral regurgitation and mitral stenosis

Question 4

symptoms

Answer 4

• sore throat
• painful polyarthiritis of large joints
• skin rashes
• fever

Question 5

Who is most likely to develop rheumatic heart disease

Answer 5

• boys between the ages of 5 and 15

- in the Middle East, India, Central America

Question 6

outcomes

Answer 6

Mitral stenosis
Mitral regurgitation, aortic stenosis and regurgitation more rare
tricuspid and pulmonary Valve involvement very rare