心臟病及保健 Heart Disease And Health   http://心臟病.tw   www.heartdisease.idv.tw  

[心臟病及保健]提供心臟病及保健一般及專業知識. 適合民眾,病患(了解心臟病及保健一般知識及專業概念)及醫護人員(學習或複習心臟病及保健專業知識)

                                                         RHEUMATIC  HEART  DISEASE

                                                               Andrew Ying-Siu Lee, MD,PhD.

 

              Group A B hemolytic streptococcus infection of the tonsilopharynx (known as rheumatic fever) will affect

the heart (rheumatic carditis), joints (arthritis), nervous system (Sydenham’s chorea), skin and subcutaneous

tissues (erythema marginatum, nodules).  Rheumatic carditis may affect the endocardium, myocardium,

pericardium and lead to fibrosis of heart valves, known as rheumatic heart disease.

 

              Rheumatic fever usually occurs in young people (5-15 years old).  Majority have no symptom.  However,

some patients may have carditis, heart failure, pericarditis and even sudden cardiac death.

 

              Therapy include bed rest, analgesics, steroids, antibiotics, supportive treatment.  Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis

is needed if there is carditis.  About 15 to 20 years after infection of rheumatic fever, the heart valves may become

calcified, thickened, atrophied or adhered, causing valvular stenoses or regurgitation.  In this case, symptoms,

therapy and prognosis thereafter become similar to that of valvular heart disease (See “valvular heart disease”).