Cardiac Involvement in Acute Rheumatic Fever
Year: 2003
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: Acute rheumatic fever (RF) is a noninfectious, systemic, immunologic delayed complication of group A β-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.1,2 RF has ravaged humankind since the industrial revolution.3 The disease was widely prevalent in the early and midpart of the 20th century in the industrialized nations4,5 Although the disease has been contained effectively,6,7 it continues to surface intermittently even in these countries. 8,9 It remains the most important cardiovascular scourge in the developing world. No temporal changes in group A streptococcal infections and carrier rates have been observed, and the rise and fall and resurgence of RF in the developed countries remain inexplicable. These epidemiologic trends constitute a major challenge to physicians who care for RF patients and to researchers who try to unravel the pathogenetic basis of the disease.10 Because RF evolves into rheumatic heart disease (RHD), it becomes imperative to manage and prevent acute occurrences of the disease effectively. This disease entity has been extensively discussed in cardiovascular texts, and we limit our discussion to the advances and emerging trends in the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and management of RF.
Source: Humana Press eBooks
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W230113265