[Clinical and demographic characteristics of 99 episodes of rheumatic fever in Acre, the Brazilian Amazon].
OBJECTIVE
To report clinical manifestations and demographic characteristics of patients with rheumatic fever treated in a public hospital in the state of Acre.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted of patients consecutively seen in the Cardiology Ward at FUNDHACRE Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were assessed through a questionnaire. The diagnosis of rheumatic fever was made based on Jones' criteria, associated with laboratory data, electrocardiography, chest X-ray, and bi-dimensional echocardiography. Patients with other heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, inflammatory disease, and infections were excluded. Those who smoked, were pregnant, or used anti-inflammatory medication or hormone therapy were also excluded.


RESULTS
From July 2003 to February 2004, 99 patients with rheumatic fever were assessed (mean age, 11 years, SD= +/- 10.18) with a predominance of females (59.6%), and a racial phenotype of a mixture of Caucasian and Indian (60.6%). Three individuals were excluded because they did not meet the diagnostic criteria. Mean age was 9.1 years old, and in 30.4% of the patients, the disease was diagnosed at the first episode of rheumatic fever. The most frequent clinical manifestations were carditis (69.7%), arthritis (21.4%), and chorea (6.1%). Mitral regurgitation was the most common lesion (36.4%) followed by the association of mitral regurgitation and aortic regurgitation (9.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Rheumatic carditis was the most common manifestation of rheumatic fever, predominant in the group with a racial mixture of Caucasian and Indian (60.6%). Low compliance with antibiotic therapy contributed to the recurrence of the disease and to cardiac sequelae.
Borges
Fátima
F
Fundação Hospitalar do Acre, Rio Branco, Acre, BA. borgesfatima@uol.com.br
Barbosa
Maria Luiza A
ML
Borges
Renata Beyruth
RB
Pinheiro
Olívia C
OC
Cardoso
Carlos
C
Bastos
Claudilson
C
Aras
Roque
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires