Rheumatic heart disease can be diagnosed on the basis of
A. Aschoff bodiesB. Vegetations along the lines of closure of valves
C. Endocardial involvement only
D. Follows skin and throat infection
E. Electrocardiogram
The Answer is. (A) Aschoff bodiesThe pathognomonic features of pancarditis in Rheumatic Fever is presence of distinctive Aschoff nodules Or Aschoff bodies
• Rheumatic heart disease is preceded by streptococcal (GroupA, Serotype 1, 3, 5,6, 18 etc.) pharyngitis and tonsillitis (Not of skin infection), is seen in 3% of cases
• Vegetations along lines of closure of valves is seen in
— Rheumatic valvular disease
— Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis
• Annular mitral calcification - Degenerated calcific deposits in the ring of mitral valve, appear as irregular stony hard and occasionally ulcerated nodules that lie behind the leaflets. Itdoes not generally affect valvular function. It is most common in woman> 60 years and individuals withrnyxomatous mitral valve or elevated left atrial pressrue
Complication — Stroke, inf. endocarditis, regurgitation (unusual)
Note:
* Button hole or Fish Mouth Mitral valve
* Bread and butter pericarditis
* Carey-coomb’s murmur (delayed diastolic murmur) Feature of RHD “Mac Callum’s patch”
