title: Aschoff bodies in operatively excised atrial appendages and in papillary muscles. Frequency and clinical significance.
abstract: Among 481 patients undergoing various mitral valve operations, Aschoff bodies were found in 40 (21%) of 191 operatively excised left atrial appendages, in four (2%) of 273 operatively excised left ventricular papillary muscles (1 per patient), and in one (6%) of 17 patients with both left atrial appendage and papillary muscle operatively excised. Of the total of 45 patients with Aschoff bodies, 44 preoperatively had mitral stenosis, and only one, a 10-year-old boy, had pure mitral regurgitation. Sinus rhythm was present in 38 (84%), and atrial fibrillation in seven (16%). Perioperatively, only one of the 45 patients with Aschoff bodies had clinical or laboratory stigmata compatible with acute rhematic fever, and 58% had an illness compatible with acute rheumatic fever at any time.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012215:Rheumatic Nodule / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000601:surgery; D014481:United States