ABSTRACT
Since more that one-hundred years ago, Cheadle [1889] was the first to direct the attention that [Rheumatic fever runs in families]. This study was done to confirm this statement by Echo-Doppler for 62 families classified as: 28 families with index cases of R.H.Dand 34 families with only history of documented ARF. All family members of the two groups were investigated clinically, and by laboratory investigations to assess their rheumatic state i:e active or quiescent 4D and colour-flow echodoppler studies were performed for all the family members of the two rheumatic groups. An age matched control of 25 family members were also echo studied. The positive data obtained are the first study in the literature where 28.6% of the hearts of the fathers and mothers of the index cases with RHD are also affected, and the hearts of the first and second siblings are affected in 32.1% and 10.7% respectively. On the other hand, for the second group of families where the index cases had no cardiac pathology but only history of ARF, the percentage of valve affection of the fathers, mothers, and first sibling were 5.9%, 23.5% and 14.5% respectively. ARF: Acute Rheumatic Fever. RHD: Rheumatic Heart Disease. TNF: Tumor Necrozing Factor. 1FN: Interferon-gamma. IL: Interlukin. M.R: Mitral Regurgitation. A.R.: Aortic Regurgitation. M.V.P: Mitral valve Prolapse. M.S: Mitral Stenosis, GAS:Group A streptococci. C.B.C: Complete Blood Count. E.S.R: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. C.R.P: C. Reactive Protein. A.S.O.T.: Antistreptolysin. O titer