title: [Rheumatic fever. Its current status based on 4 cases].
abstract: We report on 4 patients with rheumatic fever hospitalized and investigated in our clinics within a 12 month period between 1990 and 1991. In each case a clinically non-severe sore throat preceded the outbreak of rheumatic fever. In three cases diagnosis was according to the revised Jones criteria. Polyarthritis was the only major symptom in these cases. One patient suffered from monarthritis. Minor symptoms were fever, arthralgia, elevated blood sedimentation rates and elevated values for CRP and for antistreptolysin O. The joint symptoms were treated with nonsteroidal drugs and subsided. One of the patients had a recurrence 9 months after the first attack even though correct secondary prophylaxis with a 4-weekly intramuscular regimen of 1.2 million units of benzathine penicillin was carried out. We discuss some epidemiological aspects and diagnostic difficulties resulting from a changing clinical pattern of the disease, and emphasize the need for streptococcal sore throat treatment and continuous secondary prophylaxis to prevent recurrences.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Rheumaklinik, Kantonsspital Winterthur.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Satz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hany
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rüdt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D013301:Streptolysins; C025964:streptolysin O; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
vernacular_title: Das Rheumatische Fieber. Eine Standortbestimmung anhand von 4 Fällen.