The logic for extending the use of echocardiography beyond childhood to detect subclinical rheumatic heart disease.
Rheumatic heart disease is the only residual morbidity, and the sole cause of mortality, from rheumatic fever. Echocardiography is ideally suited to confirm and follow the course of rheumatic heart disease. Additionally, both minimal valvar pathology in children, and extensive valvar pathology in adults, may not cause a murmur and can be detected only by echocardiography. Whenever possible, echocardiography should be routinely employed for management of patients with rheumatic fever or suspected rheumatic fever.
Veasy
L George
LG
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, 615 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA. george.veasy@hsc.utah.edu
Tani
Lloyd Y
LY
Minich
LuAnn
L
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D004452:Echocardiography; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology