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Torres RPDA, Torres RFDA, de Crombrugghe G, Moraes da Silva SP, Cordeiro SLV, Bosi KA, Smeesters PR, Torres RSLDA. Improvement of Rheumatic Valvular Heart Disease in Patients Undergoing Prolonged Antibiotic Prophylaxis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:676098. [PMID: 34250039 PMCID: PMC8260676 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.676098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic heart diseases is efficient in reducing disease recurrence, heart damage, and cardiac impairment. We aimed to monitor the clinical evolution of a large Brazilian cohort of rheumatic patients under prolonged secondary prophylaxis. From 1986 to 2018, a cohort of 593 patients with rheumatic fever was followed every 6 months by the Reference Center for the Control and Prevention of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Cardiopathy (CPCFR), Paraná, Brazil. In this cohort, 243 (41%) patients did not present cardiac damage (group I), while 350 (59%) were diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) (group II) using the latest case definition. Among group II, 233 and 15 patients had impairment of the mitral and aortic valves, respectively, while 102 patients had impairment of both valves. Lesions on the mitral and aortic valves presented a regression in 69.9 and 48.7% of the patients, respectively. Active patient recruitment in the reference center and early detection of oropharyngeal GAS were important factors for optimal adherence to the prophylactic treatment. Patients with disease progression were associated with noncompliance to secondary prophylaxis. No patients undergoing regular prophylaxis presented progression of the rheumatic cardiac disease. Eighteen valvular surgeries were performed, and four (0.7%) patients died. This study confirmed that tailored and active efforts invested in rheumatic heart disease secondary prevention allowed for significant clinical improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gabrielle de Crombrugghe
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention and Control, Hospital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Pierre R Smeesters
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention and Control, Hospital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Brussels, Belgium.,Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rosângela Stadnick Lauth de Almeida Torres
- Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, Brazil.,Epidemiology Laboratory and Disease Control Division, Laboratório Central do Estado do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
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2
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Abstract
Acute rheumatic fever is caused by an autoimmune response to throat infection with Streptococcus pyogenes. Cardiac involvement during acute rheumatic fever can result in rheumatic heart disease, which can cause heart failure and premature mortality. Poverty and household overcrowding are associated with an increased prevalence of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, both of which remain a public health problem in many low-income countries. Control efforts are hampered by the scarcity of accurate data on disease burden, and effective approaches to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever is entirely clinical, without any laboratory gold standard, and no treatments have been shown to reduce progression to rheumatic heart disease. Prevention mainly relies on the prompt recognition and treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis, and avoidance of recurrent infection using long-term antibiotics. But evidence for the effectiveness of either approach is not strong. High-quality research is urgently needed to guide efforts to reduce acute rheumatic fever incidence and prevent progression to rheumatic heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesan Karthikeyan
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Sciences Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
| | - Luiza Guilherme
- Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, Institute for Investigation in Immunology, National Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo, Brazil
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3
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Haran S, Crane N, Kazi S, Axford-Haines L, White A. Effect of secondary penicillin prophylaxis on valvular changes in patients with rheumatic heart disease in Far North Queensland. Aust J Rural Health 2017; 26:119-125. [PMID: 29168587 DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of secondary penicillin prophylaxis on echocardiographic diagnosed valvular changes in patients with rheumatic heart disease or history of acute rheumatic fever in the Townsville Health district. DESIGN Patients with known were identified from the North Queensland register, serial echocardiogram results and number of secondary penicillin prophylaxis doses received in 2014 were collated. Descriptive statistics were utilised. SETTING Townsville Hospital and outreach clinics within the Townsville Health catchment zone. PARTICIPANTS All patients diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease between 2010 and October 2013 who had serial echocardiograms prior to and post commencement of secondary penicillin prophylaxis were included. All patients were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Progression of echocardiographic valvular changes and association with secondary penicillin prophylaxis compliance. Compliance with secondary penicillin prophylaxis among the study population was a secondary outcome measure. RESULTS Twenty-three patients were recruited. Only those patients who were compliant with secondary penicillin prophylaxis had any improvement in valvular changes on echocardiogram. Four of six patients without any baseline valvular involvement developed new valvular changes. Seventy percent of patients received >75% of secondary penicillin prophylaxis doses. CONCLUSIONS This small study of patients in Townsville suggests that with good secondary penicillin prophylaxis compliance there is regression of some cardiac lesions over time in people with rheumatic heart disease. Furthermore the natural history of acute rheumatic fever in the Indigenous population is progressive requiring strict adherence to secondary penicillin prophylaxis. Prospective studies or use of data from the nationwide RHD register and standardised reporting of cardiac echocardiograms will provide more robust evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shankar Haran
- Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalie Crane
- Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Saniya Kazi
- Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Louise Axford-Haines
- Townsville and Mackay Hospital and Health Service Rheumatic Heart Disease Registry, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew White
- Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Pereira BÁDF, Belo AR, Silva NAD. Rheumatic fever: update on the Jones criteria according to the American Heart Association review - 2015. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE REUMATOLOGIA 2017; 57:364-368. [PMID: 28743364 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbre.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatic fever is still currently a prevalent disease, especially in developing countries. Triggered by a Group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus infection, the disease may affect genetically predisposed patients. Rheumatic carditis is the most important of its clinical manifestations, which can generate incapacitating sequelae of great impact for the individual and for society. Currently, its diagnosis is made based on the Jones criteria, established in 1992 by the American Heart Association. In 2015, the AHA carried out a significant review of these criteria, with new diagnostic parameters and recommendations. In the present study, the authors perform a critical analysis of this new review, emphasizing the most relevant points for clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alinne Rodrigues Belo
- Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatria, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
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5
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Pereira BÁDF, Belo AR, Silva NAD. Febre reumática: atualização dos critérios de Jones à luz da revisão da American Heart Association – 2015. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE REUMATOLOGIA 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbr.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Kočevar U, Toplak N, Kosmač B, Kopač L, Vesel S, Krajnc N, Homan M, Rus R, Avčin T. Acute rheumatic fever outbreak in southern central European country. Eur J Pediatr 2017; 176:23-29. [PMID: 27815733 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-016-2801-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A decline in the incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in developed countries over the past century can be attributed to the improved public hygiene and to widespread use of antibiotics. ARF seemed to be a rare disease in southern central European country, Slovenia, up to 2010 when we noticed an increase in the number of patients with ARF. In order to assess the current incidence of ARF, we performed a retrospective study of all patients with ARF treated at the University Children's Hospital Ljubljana from January 2008 until the end of December 2014. In a period of 7 years, 19 patients with ARF were identified. The estimated annual incidence of ARF during the study period was 1.25 cases per 100,000 children. Carditis was present in all patients, arthritis in 37 % and Sydenham chorea in 32 %. CONCLUSION Recent ARF outbreak in Slovenia revealed that this disease is still present in southern central Europe with an estimated annual incidence of 1.25 cases per 100,000 children. Unrecognized or inadequately treated ARF could be the cause of acquired heart disease and must be even nowadays included among the differential diagnoses in a febrile child with arthritis, heart murmur or movement disorder. What is Known: • Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is diagnosed based on the major and minor Jones Criteria. • A decline in the incidence of ARF in developed countries over the past century can be attributed to the improved public hygiene and to widespread use of antibiotics. What is New: • In the last decade, an increase in the incidence of ARF was observed in Slovenia which has a central European geographic position. • Our paper highlights the importance of including ARF in the differential diagnosis of a febrile child with arthritis/arthralgia and/or heart murmur and/or acute chorea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urška Kočevar
- Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Bohoričeva 20, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Nataša Toplak
- Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Bohoričeva 20, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Blaž Kosmač
- Department of Cardiology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Luka Kopač
- Department of Child, Adolescent and Developmental Neurology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Samo Vesel
- Department of Cardiology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Natalija Krajnc
- Department of Child, Adolescent and Developmental Neurology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Homan
- Faculty of Medicine Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rina Rus
- Department of Nephrology, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tadej Avčin
- Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Bohoričeva 20, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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7
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Vignesh P, Sharma A. The 2015 Jones Criteria for Acute Rheumatic Fever - Need for a Critical Reappraisal. Indian J Pediatr 2016; 83:1219-1221. [PMID: 27139884 DOI: 10.1007/s12098-016-2110-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pandiarajan Vignesh
- Pediatric Allergy Immunology Unit, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Avinash Sharma
- Pediatric Allergy Immunology Unit, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
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Carapetis JR, Beaton A, Cunningham MW, Guilherme L, Karthikeyan G, Mayosi BM, Sable C, Steer A, Wilson N, Wyber R, Zühlke L. Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2016; 2:15084. [PMID: 27188830 PMCID: PMC5810582 DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2015.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 304] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is the result of an autoimmune response to pharyngitis caused by infection with group A Streptococcus. The long-term damage to cardiac valves caused by ARF, which can result from a single severe episode or from multiple recurrent episodes of the illness, is known as rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and is a notable cause of morbidity and mortality in resource-poor settings around the world. Although our understanding of disease pathogenesis has advanced in recent years, this has not led to dramatic improvements in diagnostic approaches, which are still reliant on clinical features using the Jones Criteria, or treatment practices. Indeed, penicillin has been the mainstay of treatment for decades and there is no other treatment that has been proven to alter the likelihood or the severity of RHD after an episode of ARF. Recent advances - including the use of echocardiographic diagnosis in those with ARF and in screening for early detection of RHD, progress in developing group A streptococcal vaccines and an increased focus on the lived experience of those with RHD and the need to improve quality of life - give cause for optimism that progress will be made in coming years against this neglected disease that affects populations around the world, but is a particular issue for those living in poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Carapetis
- Telethon Kids Institute, the University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia
- Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrea Beaton
- Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Madeleine W Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biomedical Research Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Luiza Guilherme
- Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institute for Immunology Investigation, National Institute for Science and Technology, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ganesan Karthikeyan
- Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Bongani M Mayosi
- Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Craig Sable
- Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Andrew Steer
- Department of Paediatrics, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nigel Wilson
- Green Lane Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Services, Starship Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rosemary Wyber
- Telethon Kids Institute, the University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia
| | - Liesl Zühlke
- Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed R Essop
- From the Division of Cardiology, CH-Baragwanath Hospital and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Ferande Peters
- From the Division of Cardiology, CH-Baragwanath Hospital and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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10
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Kumar RK, Tandon R. Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease: the last 50 years. Indian J Med Res 2013; 137:643-58. [PMID: 23703332 PMCID: PMC3724245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continue to be a major health hazard in most developing countries as well as sporadically in developed economies. Despite reservations about the utility, echocardiographic and Doppler (E&D) studies have identified a massive burden of RHD suggesting the inadequacy of the Jones' criteria updated by the American Heart Association in 1992. Subclinical carditis has been recognized by E&D in patients with acute RF without clinical carditis as well as by follow up of RHD patients presenting as isolated chorea or those without clinical evidence of carditis. Over the years, the medical management of RF has not changed. Paediatric and juvenile mitral stenosis (MS), upto the age of 12 and 20 yr respectively, severe enough to require operative treatement was documented. These negate the belief that patients of RHD become symptomatic ≥20 years after RF as well as the fact that congestive cardiac failure in childhood indicates active carditis and RF. Non-surgical balloon mitral valvotomy for MS has been initiated. Mitral and/or aortic valve replacement during active RF in patients not responding to medical treatment has been found to be life saving as well as confirming that congestive heart failure in acute RF is due to an acute haemodynamic overload. Pathogenesis as well as susceptibility to RF continue to be elusive. Prevention of RF morbidity depends on secondary prophylaxis which cannot reduce the burden of diseases. Primary prophylaxis is not feasible in the absence of a suitable vaccine. Attempts to design an antistreptococcal vaccine utilizing the M-protein has not succeeded in the last 40 years. Besides pathogenesis many other questions remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Krishna Kumar
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Kochi, India
| | - R. Tandon
- Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science & Research, New Delhi, India,Reprint requests: Dr R. Tandon, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science & Research, B-16, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi 110 016, India e-mail:
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11
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Karthikeyan G. Diagnosis of acute rheumatic carditis: An echo in time…. Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2012; 5:127-8. [PMID: 23129898 PMCID: PMC3487197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ganesan Karthikeyan
- Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India,Address for correspondence: Dr. Ganesan Karthikeyan, Additional Professor of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029, India. E-mail:
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