Abstract Mitral stenosis (MS) is a valvular disease that predominantly affects women, with rheumatic fever being the most prevalent etiological cause. The hemodynamic consequences of rheumatic MS may include left atrial (LA) pressure overload and dilation, atrial fibrillation (AF), secondary pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, atrial thrombosis, and systemic thromboembolism. Echocardiography is the gold standard for diagnosing, quantifying severity, and evaluating the hemodynamic impact of MS. We present the case of a 41-year-old female patient who arrived at the emergency department […]

Abstract Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the leading cause of valve disease in developing countries, with intracardiac thrombus events as one of the frequent manifestations. Based on Trias Virchow, a thrombus occurs because of endothelial injury, blood flow abnormality, and hypercoagulability. In RHD, this condition is caused by inflammation, mitral stenosis (MS), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Pro-inflammatory cytokines promote thrombus formation, and anti-inflammatory cytokines inhibit it. IL-4 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that can potentially inhibit thrombus formation because it […]

Introduction Rheumatic fever (RF) is a prevalent condition in developing countries, accounting for a cardiac mortality of rate 7.9% in Brazil (DATASUS). Cases of rheumatic fever are often underdiagnosed and recognized only after permanent valve damage due to previous carditis. Secondary prevention of RF aims to limit the development and/or progression of valvular lesions and their complications. However, even on therapy with benzathine penicillin every 21 days, patients may experience recurrence of acute RF, making diagnosis a greater challenge. The […]

Abstract Background: Mortality from cardiovascular diseases has reduced in Brazil in recent decades, but this phenomenon is not clear in the northeast region of the country. Objectives: To describe the mortality trends from cardiovascular disease in Bahia from 2000-2015, in total population and by sex and age groups, and by specific causes (ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, rheumatic heart disease and heart failure). Methods: This was a time series study. Data were obtained from SIM-DATASUS and IBGE, and the 10th […]

Resumo Fundamento: As cardites reumáticas leve e subclínica se diferenciam basicamente pela ausculta de sopro regurgitativo mitral. A evolução destas formas não está bem estabelecida na literatura. Objetivo: Avaliar a evolução das cardites reumáticas leve e subclínica, considerando as valvites mitral e/ou aórtica (fase aguda) e a regressão, manutenção ou piora delas ao final do seguimento (fase crônica). Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, longitudinal, incluindo pacientes com cardites reumáticas leve e subclínica. A evolução ecocardiográfica das valvites mitral e/ou aórtica foi comparada […]