A Retrospective Evaluation of the Patients with Acute Rheumatic Fever Between 1990-2001

Abstract

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is the major cause of acquired valvular disease of childhood. Although ARF and its most important sequela, Rheumatic Valvular Disease (RVD) are rare instances in developed countries, they are still important problems in underdeveloped and developing countries. Early diagnosis, treatment and compliance with secondary prophylaxis are important factors to prevent the sequela especially for populations in which predisposing environmental conditions can not be improved. So we have planned to determine the clinical features and the factors influencing the prognosis in ARF. In this study, 309 ARF patients who have been diagnosed and followed up between 1990-2001 in our hospital were included. The incidence of ARF and RVD did not show any difference from the previous decade. RVD was diagnosed in 70 percent of ARF patients and was usually mild in severity. This disturbingly high ratio of RVD underlies the value of echocardiographic study in all patients with ARF.