Echocardiographic assessment of rheumatic carditis: a long term follow up study
By: K S H de Silva, S N Perera and M D Samarasinghe
Open Access
|Apr 2014Abstract
Objective: Document the long term cardiac outcome of childhood rheumatic fever (RF).
Method: Children diagnosed with RF were prospectively studied for 5 years from August 1994. Their cardiac status was re-evaluated in 2006 based on WHO criteria.
Results: Initial episode of RF was seen in 91 children during the 5 years from 1994. Fifty (55%) presented for re-assessment. Six (2 with RC) had discontinued prophylaxis. None had relapses. In the 9 with carditis during the initial presentation, no residual changes were seen in 2, but cardiac damage had progressed in 3. Three patients initially diagnosed as having mitral valve prolapse (MVP) had evidence of RC. Therefore of the 50 patients re-assessed, 12 (24%) had evidence of carditis with resolution of changes seen in 2 (16.7%).
Conclusions: Regular assessments with echocardiography are mandatory to confirm and monitor cardiac involvement.
Method: Children diagnosed with RF were prospectively studied for 5 years from August 1994. Their cardiac status was re-evaluated in 2006 based on WHO criteria.
Results: Initial episode of RF was seen in 91 children during the 5 years from 1994. Fifty (55%) presented for re-assessment. Six (2 with RC) had discontinued prophylaxis. None had relapses. In the 9 with carditis during the initial presentation, no residual changes were seen in 2, but cardiac damage had progressed in 3. Three patients initially diagnosed as having mitral valve prolapse (MVP) had evidence of RC. Therefore of the 50 patients re-assessed, 12 (24%) had evidence of carditis with resolution of changes seen in 2 (16.7%).
Conclusions: Regular assessments with echocardiography are mandatory to confirm and monitor cardiac involvement.
DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v43i1-2.6805
Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians,2012, 43, 20-23
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v43i1-2.6805 | Journal eISSN: 2448-9514
Language: English
Page range: 20 - 23
Published on: Apr 7, 2014
Published by: Ceylon College of Physicians
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
© 2014 K S H de Silva, S N Perera, M D Samarasinghe, published by Ceylon College of Physicians
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License.