Rheumatic Heart Disease in Europe: Insights from a Pilot Screening Study and a Scoping Review
References
- Ghamari SH, Abbasi-Kangevari M, Moghaddam SS, Aminorroaya A, Rezaei N, Shobeiri P, et al. Rheumatic Heart Disease Is a Neglected Disease Relative to Its Burden Worldwide: Findings From Global Burden of Disease 2019. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11(13):
e025284 . DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.122.025284 - Guilherme L, Kalil J, Cunningham M. Molecular mimicry in the autoimmune pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease. Autoimmunity. 2006;39(1):31–39. DOI: 10.1080/08916930500484674
- Bessen DE, Carapetis JR, Beall B, Katz R, Hibble M, Currie BJ, et al. Contrasting Molecular Epidemiology of Group A Streptococci Causing Tropical and Nontropical Infections of the Skin and Throat. J Infect Dis. 2000;182(4):1109–1116. DOI: 10.1086/315842
- McDonald MI, Towers RJ, Andrews RM, Benger N, Currie BJ, Carapetis JR. Low Rates of Streptococcal Pharyngitis and High Rates of Pyoderma in Australian Aboriginal Communities Where Acute Rheumatic Fever Is Hyperendemic. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(6):683–689. DOI: 10.1086/506938
- Bland EF, Jones D. Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Twenty Year Report on 1000 Patients Followed Since Childhood. Circulation. 1951;4(6):836–843. DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.4.6.836
- Carapetis JR, Currie BJ, Mathews JD. Cumulative incidence of rheumatic fever in an endemic region: a guide to the susceptibility of the population? Epidemiol Infect. 2000;124(2):239–244. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268800003514
- Kumar RK, Tandon R. Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease: the last 50 years. Indian J Med Res. 2013;137(4):643–658.
- Kumar RK, Antunes MJ, Beaton A, Mirabel M, Nkomo VT, Okello E, et al. Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of Rheumatic Heart Disease: Implications for Closing the Gap: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020;142(20):e337–e357. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000921
- de Loizaga SR, Beaton AZ. Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in the United States. Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(3):e98–e104. DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20210221-01
- Seckeler MD, Hoke TR. The worldwide epidemiology of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Clin Epidemiol. 2011;3(1):67–84. DOI: 10.2147/CLEP.S12977
- Carapetis JR, Steer AC, Mulholland EK, Weber M. The global burden of group A streptococcal diseases. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005;5(11):685–694. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70267-X
- Remenyi B, Carapetis J, Wyber R, Taubert K, Mayosi BM. Position statement of the World Heart Federation on the prevention and control of rheumatic heart disease. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2013;10(5):284–292. DOI: 10.1038/nrcardio.2013.34
- Stewart T, McDonald R, Currie B. Acute rheumatic fever: Adherence to secondary prophylaxis and follow up of Indigenous patients in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory. Aust J Rural Health. 2007;15(4):234–240. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2007.00896.x
- Kumar R, Thakur JS, Aggarwal A, Ganguly NK. Compliance of secondary prophylaxis for controlling rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in a rural area of northern India. Indian Heart J. 1997;49(3):282–288.
- Harrington Z, Thomas DP, Currie BJ, Bulkanhawuy J. Challenging perceptions of non-compliance with rheumatic fever prophylaxis in a remote Aboriginal community. Med J Aust. 2006;184(10):514–517. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00347.x
- Nurse-Findlay S, Taylor MM, Savage M, Mello MB, Saliyou S, Lavayen M, et al. Shortages of benzathine penicillin for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis: An evaluation from multi-country surveys and stakeholder interviews. PLoS Med. 2017;14(12):
e1002473 . DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002473 - White A. WHO Resolution on rheumatic heart disease. Eur Heart J. 2018;39(48):4233. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy764
- Rwebembera J, Marangou J, Mwita JC, Mocumbi AO, Mota C, Okello E, et al. 2023 World Heart Federation guidelines for the echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2024;21(4):250–263. DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00940-9
- Remenyi B, Wilson N, Steer A, Ferreira B, Kado J, Kumar K, et al. World Heart Federation criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease—an evidence-based guideline. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2012;9(5):297–309. DOI: 10.1038/nrcardio.2012.7
- Gerber MA, Baltimore RS, Eaton CB, Gewitz M, Rowley AH, Shulman ST, et al. Prevention of Rheumatic Fever and Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Streptococcal Pharyngitis: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the Interdisciplinary Council on Functional Genomics and Translational Biology, and the Interdisciplinary Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research: Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Circulation. 2009;119(11):1541–1551. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.191959
- World Health Organization. WHO guideline on the prevention and diagnosis of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. World Health Organization; 2024. p. 53.
- Watkins DA, Johnson CO, Colquhoun SM, Karthikeyan G, Beaton A, Bukhman G, et al. Global, Regional, and National Burden of Rheumatic Heart Disease, 1990–2015. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(8):713–722. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-443-11980-4.00023-4
- McCarthy N. Infographic: Europe’s Biggest Foreign-Born Communities [Internet]. Statista Daily Data. Statista; 2018. [updated 2018 Feb 27. cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from:
https://www.statista.com/chart/13064/europes-biggest-foreign-born-communities/ . - Mutagaywa RK, Wind AM, Kamuhabwa A, Cramer MJ, Chillo P, Chamuleau S. Rheumatic heart disease anno 2020: Impacts of gender and migration on epidemiology and management. Eur J Clin Invest. 2020;50(12):
e13374 . DOI: 10.1111/eci.13374 - Chen QF, Shi S, Wang YF, Shi J, Liu C, Xu T, et al. Global, Regional, and National Burden of Valvular Heart Disease, 1990 to 2021. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024;13(24):
e037991 . DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.124.037991 - Steinmaurer M, Baertz L, Saha S, Joskowiak D, Seybold U, Rwebembera J, et al. Rheumatic heart disease prevalence in migrant populations in germany, a pilot study. Eur Heart J. 2025;46. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf784.2492
- Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page M, et al. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 5.1.0. Chichester, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons; 2011.
- Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffman TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2021;74(9):790–799. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.03.001
- Grimaldi A, Vermi AC, Cammalleri V, Castiglioni A, Pappalardo F, Taramasso M, et al. Heart surgery for immigrants in Italy: burden of cardiovascular disease, adherence to treatment and outcomes. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2016;17(2):105–112. DOI: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000000228
- Condemi F, Rossi G, Lupiz M, Pagano A, Zamatto F, Marini S, et al. Screening of asymptomatic rheumatic heart disease among refugee/migrant children and youths in Italy. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2019;17(1):12. DOI: 10.1186/s12969-019-0314-9
- Iung B, Baron G, Butchart EG, Delahaye F, Gohlke-Bärwolf C, Levang OW, et al. A prospective survey of patients with valvular heart disease in Europe: The Euro Heart Survey on Valvular Heart Disease. Eur Heart J. 2003;24(13):1231–1243. DOI: 10.1016/S0195-668X(03)00201-X
- Demirbağ R, Sade LE, Aydın M, Bozkurt A, Acartürk E. The Turkish registry of heart valve disease. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2013;41(1):1–10. DOI: 10.5543/tkda.2013.71430
- Hibino M, Halkos ME, Murphy DA, Dhingra NK, Verma R, Hibino H, et al. Age period cohort analysis of rheumatic heart disease in high-income countries. Clin Res Cardiol. 2023;112(11):1568–1576. DOI: 10.1007/s00392-023-02168-6
- Aphram G, De Kerchove L, Mastrobuoni S, Navarra E, Solari S, Tamer S, et al. Re-repair of the failed mitral valve: insights into aetiology and surgical management. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2018;54(4):774–780. DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezy111
- Desnos C, Iung B, Himbert D, Ducrocq G, Urena M, Cormier B, et al. Temporal Trends on Percutaneous Mitral Commissurotomy: 30 Years of Experience. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8(13):
e012031 . DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.119.012031 - Verdonk C, Cimadevilla C, Lepage L, Perez F, Ghodbane W, Raffoul R, et al. Systematic transoesophageal echocardiography after mitral valve replacement: Rates and determinants of paravalvular regurgitation. Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 2018;111(8–9):528–533. DOI: 10.1016/j.acvd.2017.12.005
- Fabi M, Calicchia M, Palleri D, Ndikubwimana I, Conard C, Kamanzi ER, et al. Pediatric rheumatic carditis in Italy and Rwanda: The same disease, different socio-economic settings. Int J Cardiol. 2021;338:154–160. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2021.06.027
- Augestad KM, Martyushova K, Fedorov B, Martyushov S, Lie M. Closed mitral commissurotomy in Archangel, Northern Russia, 1965–1993. Operative assessment of 367 patients operated on for rheumatic mitral stenosis. Scand Cardiovasc J. 2000;34(5):533–535. DOI: 10.1080/140174300750064738
- Fedakar A, Sasmazel A, Bugra O, Sarikaya S, Büyükbayrak F, Erdem H, et al. Results of mitral valve repair in rheumatic mitral lesions. Heart Surg Forum. 2010;13(2):E86–E90. DOI: 10.1532/HSF98.20091109
- Mavioglu I, Doğan OV, Ozeren M, Dolgun A, Yucel E. Valve repair for rheumatic mitral disease. J Heart Valve Dis. 2001;10(5):596–602.
- Tekumit H, Cenal AR, Tataroglu C, Uzun K, Polat A, Akinci E. Cusp shaving for concomitant mild to moderate rheumatic aortic insufficiency. J Card Surg. 2010;25(1):16–22. DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2009.00948.x
- Yilmaz M, Ozkan M, Boke E. Triple valve surgery: a 25-year experience. Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2004;4(3):205–208.
- Ismeno G, Renzulli A, De Feo M, Della Corte A, Mauro C, Romano G, et al. Surgery of rheumatic mitral stenosis: comparison of different techniques. Acta Cardiol. 2001;56(3):155–161. DOI: 10.2143/AC.56.3.2005635
- Karakaya O, Turkmen M, Bitigen A, Saglam M, Barutcu I, Esen AM, et al. Effect of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty on left atrial appendage function: a Doppler tissue study. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2006;19(4):434–437. DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2005.10.022
- Martens S, Sadowski J, Eckstein FS, Bartus K, Kapelak B, Sievers HH, et al. Clinical experience with the ATS 3f Enable(R) Sutureless Bioprosthesis. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2011;40(3):749–755. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2010.12.068
- Tokmakoglu H, Vural KM, Ozatik MA, Cehreli S, Sener E, Tasdemir O. Closed commissurotomy versus balloon valvuloplasty for rheumatic mitral stenosis. J Heart Valve Dis. 2001;10(3):281–287.
- Amador AF, Costa C, Pinto R, Carvalho M. 20-year follow-up of rheumatic mitral stenosis patients after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy: invasive transmitral gradient differential as a predictor of events. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2025;95(1). DOI: 10.4081/monaldi.2024.2941
- Gencoglu F, Yesiltas MA, Koyuncu O, Mert AM. The effect of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction on early mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2024;24(1):568. DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-04238-7
- Landgren O, Engels EA, Caporaso NE, Gridley G, Mellemkjaer L, Hemminki K, et al. Patterns of autoimmunity and subsequent chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Nordic countries. Blood. 2006;108(1):292–296. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2005-11-4620
- Eriksson JG, Kajantie E, Phillips DIW, Osmond C, Thornburg KL, Barker DJP. The developmental origins of chronic rheumatic heart disease. Am J Hum Biol. 2013;25(5):655–658. DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22425
- Le Ven F, Alavi Z, Jobic Y, Etienne Y, Didier R, Porcher R. Drug-Induced- or Rheumatic- Valvular Heart Disease in Patients Exposed to Benfluorex? PLoS One. 2016;11(8):
e0160011 . DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160011 - Taddio A, Pillon R, Pastore S, Monasta L, Tommasini A, Di Battista C, et al. Acute rheumatic fever prophylaxis in high-income countries: clinical observations from an Italian multicentre, retrospective study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2020;38(5):1016–1020.
- Leszek P, Klisiewicz A, Janas J, Różański J, Rywik T, Piotrowski W, et al. Determinants of the reduction in B-type natriuretic peptide after mitral valve replacement in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2010;30(6):473–479. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2010.00968.x
- Goodman A, Kajantie E, Osmond C, Eriksson J, Koupil I, Thornburg K, et al. The relationship between umbilical cord length and chronic rheumatic heart disease: a prospective cohort study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2015;22(9):1154–1160. DOI: 10.1177/2047487314544082
- Odemis E, Catal F, Karadag A, Kurtaran H, Ark N, Mete E. Assessment of cardiac function and rheumatic heart disease in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. J Natl Med Assoc. 2006;98(12):1973–1976.
- Tavli V, Canbal A, Saylan B, Saritaş T, Meşe T, Atlihan F. Assessment of myocardial involvement using cardiac troponin-I and echocardiography in rheumatic carditis in Izmir, Turkey. Pediatr Int. 2008;50(1):62–64. DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2007.02511.x
- Atalar E, Yorgun H, Canpolat U, Sunman H, Kepez A, Kocabaş U, et al. Prevalence of coronary artery disease before valvular surgery in patients with rheumatic valvular disease. Coron Artery Dis. 2012;23(8):533–537. DOI: 10.1097/MCA.0b013e32835aab26
- Mataraci I, Polat A, Mert B, Aydin C, Kirali K. Radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in rheumatic valvular disease. Heart Lung Circ. 2010;19(1):43–49. DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2009.07.001
- Sucu M, Davutoğlu V, Ozer O, Aksoy M. Epidemiological, clinical and microbiological profile of infective endocarditis in a tertiary hospital in the South-East Anatolia Region. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2010;38(2):107–111.
- Bozbaş H, Yildirir A, Küçük MA, Ozgül A, Atar I, Sezgin A, et al. Prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing valvular operation due to rheumatic involvement. Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2004;4(3):223–226.
- Tuğcu A, Yildirimtürk O, Baytaroğlu C, Kurtoğlu H, Köse O, Sener M, et al. Clinical spectrum, presentation, and risk factors for mortality in infective endocarditis: a review of 68 cases at a tertiary care center in Turkey. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2009;37(1):9–18.
- Sahin MS, Yalcin MU, Kocyigit D. Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in patients with recurrent tonsillitis and elevated anti-streptolysin O titers. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;89:133–135. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.08.004
- Akram MR, Chan T, McAuliffe S, Chenzbraun A. Non-rheumatic annular mitral stenosis: prevalence and characteristics. Eur J Echocardiogr. 2009;10(1):103–105. DOI: 10.1093/ejechocard/jen179
- Naveen Kumar V, van der Linden M, Menon T, Nitsche-Schmitz P. Viridans and bovis group streptococci that cause infective endocarditis in two regions with contrasting epidemiology. Int J Med Microbiol. 2014;304(3–4):262–268. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2013.10.004
- Callegari S, Macchi E, Monaco R, Magnani L, Tafuni A, Croci S, et al. Clinicopathological Bird‘s-Eye View of Left Atrial Myocardial Fibrosis in 121 Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Developing Architecture and Main Cellular Players. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2020;13(7):
e007588 . DOI: 10.1161/CIRCEP.119.007588 - Kranidis A, Koulouris S, Filippatos G, Kappos K, Tsilias K, Karvounis H, et al. Mitral Regurgitation Protects from Left Atrial Thrombogenesis in Patients with Mitral Valve Disease and Atrial Fibrillation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2000;23(11 Pt 2):1863–1866. DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2000.tb07039.x
- Bilge M, Eryonucu B, Güler N, Erkoç R. Right Atrial Appendage Function in Patients with Chronic Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation. Jpn Heart J. 2000;41(4):451–462. DOI: 10.1536/jhj.41.451
- Temur KT, Magat G, Cosgunarslan A, Ozcan S. Evaluation of Jaw Bone Change in Children and Adolescents with Rheumatic Heart Disease by Fractal Analysis. Niger J Clin Pract. 2024;27(2):260–267. DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_346_23
- Watt G, Lacroix A, Pachirat O, Baggett HC, Raoult D, Fournier PE. Prospective comparison of infective endocarditis in Khon Kaen, Thailand and Rennes, France. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015;92(4):871–874. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0689
- Benz AP, Healey JS, Chin A, Commerford P, Marsden T, Karthikeyan G, et al. Stroke risk prediction in patients with atrial fibrillation with and without rheumatic heart disease. Cardiovasc Res. 2022;118(1):295–304. DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa344
- Ascione L, De Michele M, Accadia M, Rumolo S, Damiano L, Guarini P, et al. Accuracy and feasibility of a simplified approach to assess the regurgitant orifice area in patients with mitral regurgitation. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2004;20(2):95–100. DOI: 10.1023/B:CAIM.0000014035.71408.71
- Toledano F, Crespín M, Ortiz MR, Mesa D, Romo E, Delgado M, et al. Etiologic spectrum and clinical features of mitral regurgitation in a Spanish population. J Heart Valve Dis. 2012;21(3):293–298.
- Atalay S, Tutar E, Uçar T, Topçu S, Köse SK, Doğan MT. Echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease in Turkish schoolchildren. Cardiol Young. 2019;29(10):1272–1277. DOI: 10.1017/S1047951119002981
- Uner A, Doğan M, Cakin C, Kaya A, Sal E. The ratio of congenital heart disease and innocent murmur in children in Van city, the Eastern Turkey. Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2009;9(1):29–34.
- Ozer O, Davutoglu V, Sari I, Akkoyun DC, Sucu M. The spectrum of rheumatic heart disease in the southeastern Anatolia endemic region: results from 1900 patients. J Heart Valve Dis. 2009;18(1):68–72.
- Phillips DIW, Osmond C, Williams ML, Jones A. Air pollution in early life and adult mortality from chronic rheumatic heart disease. Int J Epidemiol. 2017;46(4):1107–1114. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw249
- Yildiz ATA, Yuksel M, Demir F, Toprak N, Karabel D, Oylumlu M, Alan S. Echocardiography screening for rheumatic heart disease among schoolchildren in southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey. European Heart Journal. 2016;37:461. 2016.
- Licciardi F, Baldini L, Del Monte F, Geranzani A, Mulatero R, Covizzi C, et al. Persistent Valvular Regurgitation After Acute Rheumatic Fever: Early Predictors of Long Term Outcomes in a Pediatric Retrospective Cohort. Pediatr Cardiol. 2025;46(5):1289–1295. DOI: 10.1007/s00246-024-03547-0
- İrdem A, Ergin SO, Kaçar A, Dağdeviren FE. An 8-year single-centre experience of patients with subclinical rheumatic carditis. Cardiol Young. 2024;34(12):2521–2527. DOI: 10.1017/S1047951124026453
- Ulkersoy I, Karagozlu F, Coskun YI, Murt NU, Yildiz M, Haslak F, et al. The Effect of Secondary Prophylaxis Adherence on Rheumatic Heart Disease and Determinants of Poor Adherence in Children: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study. Pediatr Cardiol. 2025;47(5). DOI: 10.1007/s00246-025-04005-1
- Gumus G, Giray D, Bobusoglu O, Tamer L, Karpuz D, Hallioglu O. MicroRNA values in children with rheumatic carditis: a preliminary study. Rheumatol Int. 2018;38(7):1199–1205. DOI: 10.1007/s00296-018-4069-2
- Stanevicha V, Eglite J, Sochnevs A, Gardovska D, Zavadska D, Shantere R. HLA class II associations with rheumatic heart disease among clinically homogeneous patients in children in Latvia. Arthritis Res Ther. 2003;5(6):R340–R346. DOI: 10.1186/ar1000
- Simsek I, Koz C, Basar N, Sari I, Erdem H, Pay S, et al. Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene mutation frequency is not increased in adults with rheumatic heart disease. Clin Rheumatol. 2011;30(4):491–495. DOI: 10.1007/s10067-010-1537-9
- Düzgün N, Duman T, Haydardedeoğlu FE, Tutkak H. The lack of genetic association of the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) Arg753Gln and Arg677Trp polymorphisms with rheumatic heart disease. Clin Rheumatol. 2007;26(6):915–919. DOI: 10.1007/s10067-006-0432-x
- Gündoğdu F, Islamoğlu Y, Pirim I, Gurlertop Y, Doğan H, Arslan Ş, et al. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II alleles in Turkish patients with rheumatic heart disease. J Heart Valve Dis. 2007;16(3):293–299.
- Polat N, Yildiz A, Alan S, Toprak N. Association of pentraxin-3 with the severity of rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. Acta Cardiol. 2015;70(4):409–413. DOI: 10.1080/AC.70.4.3094649
- Atalar E, Tokgözoglu SL, Alikasifoglu M, Ovünç K, Aksöyek S, Kes S, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype predicts valve damage in acute rheumatic fever. J Heart Valve Dis. 2003;12(1):7–10.
- Zamorano J, Cordeiro P, Sugeng L. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for rheumatic mitral valve stenosis evaluation: an accurate and novel approach. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004;43(11):2091–2096. DOI: 10.1016/j.accreview.2004.08.014
- Karpuz D, Giray D, Ozyurt A, Bozlu G, Unal S, Hallioglu O. Can whole-blood parameters be used in follow-up of children with rheumatic valvular heart disease? Cardiol Young. 2017;27(4):764–769. DOI: 10.1017/S1047951116001281
- Yavuz T, Nisli K, Oner N, Dindar A, Aydogan U, Omeroglu RE, et al. Long term follow-up results of 139 Turkish children and adolescents with rheumatic heart disease. Eur J Pediatr. 2008;167(11):1321–1326. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-008-0799-6
- Ozdemir R, Karadeniz C, Doksoz O, Celegen M, Yozgat Y, Guven B, et al. Are mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width useful parameters in children with acute rheumatic carditis? Pediatr Cardiol. 2014;35(1):53–56. DOI: 10.1007/s00246-013-0738-9
- Uçar O, Vural M, Cetfïn Z, Gökaslan S, Gürsoy T, Paşaoğlu L, et al. Assessment of planimetric mitral valve area using 16-row multidetector computed tomography in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. J Heart Valve Dis. 2011;20(1):13–17.
- Mutlu B, Karabulut M, Eroglu E, Tigen K, Bayrak F, Fotbolcu H, et al. Fibrillatory wave amplitude as a marker of left atrial and left atrial appendage function, and a predictor of thromboembolic risk in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Int J Cardiol. 2003;91(2–3):179–186. DOI: 10.1016/S0167-5273(03)00024-X
- Yıldırımtürk Ö, Helvacioglu F, Tayyareci Y, Yurdakul S, Aytekin S. Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with mild-to-moderate rheumatic mitral stenosis and normal left ventricular ejection fraction: an observational study. Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2013;13(4):328–336. DOI: 10.5152/akd.2013.100
- Dogan S, Aydin M, Gursurer M, Dursun A, Onuk T, Madak H. Prediction of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction with strain rate imaging in patients with mild to moderate rheumatic mitral stenosis. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2006;19(3):243–248. DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2005.09.014
- Tunaoglu FS, Olguntürk R, Kula S, Oğuz D. Effective regurgitant orifice area of rheumatic mitral insufficiency: response to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment. Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2004;4(1):3–7.
- Alp H, Baysal T, Altın H, Karataş Z, Karaarslan S. QT and P-wave dispersions in rheumatic heart disease: prospective long-term follow up. Pediatr Int. 2014;56(5):681–688. DOI: 10.1111/ped.12328
- Yavrum BE, Gul AEK, Azak E, Gursu HA, Cetin II. Changing face of acute rheumatic fever in childhood and our clinical results. North Clin Istanb. 2023;10(2):237–247. DOI: 10.14744/nci.2021.58966
- Kelmendi MI. Rheumatic fever in Kosoava—long-term study. Med Arh. 2009;63(4):231–233.
- Bal HI, Türkyılmaz İ, Kayalı Ş, Kılıç A. Subtle myocardial effects of rheumatic heart disease in children are revealed earlier with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. Turk J Pediatr. 2024;66(3):346–353. DOI: 10.24953/turkjpediatr.2024.4566
- Poyraz E, Can F, Keles N, Asarcikli LD, Sekerci SS, Gurkan TB, et al. Evaluation of right ventricular mechanics using exercise echocardiography in asymptomatic patients with severe mitral stenosis. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2024;40(12):2571–2579. DOI: 10.1007/s10554-024-03263-z
- Sonsöz MR, Inan D, Karadamar N, Şahin K, Eroğlu Z, Tuğrul S, et al. Elevated lipoprotein(a) levels in rheumatic heart valvular disease: A new link? Lipids. 2025;60(4):193–200. DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12434
- Seçkin Göbüt Ö, Ünlü S, Taçoy Aydoğdu G. Comparative assessment of left and right atrial deformation using 2D and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy individuals and rheumatic mitral stenosis patients with/without atrial fibrillation. Postgrad Med. 2025;137(3–4):309–317. DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2025.2478819
- Madazli R, Sal V, Cift T, Guralp O, Goymen A. Pregnancy outcomes in women with heart disease. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2010;281(1):29–34. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-009-1050-z
- Bozkaya VÖ, Oskovi Kaplan ZA, Özgü E, Engin Ustun Y. Screening and evaluation of newly diagnosed cardiovascular diseases in first-trimester asymptomatic pregnant women in a tertiary antenatal care center in Turkey. Anatol J Cardiol. 2020;23(2):99–104. DOI: 10.14744/AnatolJCardiol.2019.55267
- Iscan ZH, Mavioglu L, Vural KM, Kucuker S, Birincioglu L. Cardiac surgery during pregnancy. J Heart Valve Dis. 2006;15(5):686–690.
- van Hagen IM, Thorne SA, Taha N, Youssef G, Elnagar A, Gabriel H, et al. Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease: Results From the Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease. Circulation. 2018;137(8):806–816. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.032561
- Scheel A, Mirabel M, Nunes MCP, Okello E, Sarnacki R, Steer AC, et al. The inter-rater reliability and individual reviewer performance of the 2012 world heart federation guidelines for the echocardiographic diagnosis of latent rheumatic heart disease. Int J Cardiol. 2021;328:146–151. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.11.013
- Oldgren J, Healey JS, Ezekowitz M, Commerford P, Avezum A, Prem Pais P, et al. Variations in Cause and Management of Atrial Fibrillation in a Prospective Registry of 15,400 Emergency Department Patients in 46 countries: The RE-LY Atrial Fibrillation Registry. Circulation. 2014;129(15):1568–1576. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.005451
- Chen J, Li W, Xiang M. Burden of valvular heart disease, 1990–2017: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. J Glob Health. 2020;10(2):020404. DOI: 10.7189/jogh.10.020404
- Elmusharaf K, Poix S, Scaria EB, Saherwala M, Byström M, Hammerich A, et al. The economic burden of rheumatic heart disease in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. BMJ Glob Health. 2025;10(10). DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018277
- Abdelhamid M, Meged AMA, Prendergast B, Calvo-Iglesias FE, Taha SM, Kazamel GA, et al. Baseline characteristics and outcomes of rheumatic mitral valve disease: the EURObservational Research Programme Valvular Heart Disease II Survey. Eur Heart J. 2025;46(15):1431–1442. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf050
- Beaton A, Okello E, Lwabi P, Mondo C, McCarter R, Sable C. Echocardiography Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Ugandan Schoolchildren. Circulation. 2012;125(25):3127–3132. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.092312
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/gh.1573 | Journal eISSN: 2211-8179
Language: English
Page range: 56 - 56
Submitted on: Apr 14, 2026
Accepted on: Jun 23, 2026
Published on: Jul 16, 2026
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
© 2026 Martina Steinmaurer, Lea Baertz, Taariq Salie, Shekhar Saha, Dominik Joskowiak, Ulrich Seybold, Eimo Martens, Joselyn Rwebembera, Christian Hagl, Mark Engel, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.