Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease in a Public School of Belo Horizonte / Prevalência de Valvopatia Reumática Subclínica em Alunos de Escola Pública de Belo Horizonte

Background: Previous studies indicate that compared with physical examination, Doppler echocardiography identifies a larger number of cases of rheumatic heart disease in apparently healthy individuals. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among students in a public school of Belo Horizonte by clinical evaluation and Doppler echocardiography. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 267 randomly selected school students aged between 6 and 16 years. students underwent anamnesis and physical examination with the purpose of establishing criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. They were all subjected to Doppler echocardiography using a portable machine. Those who exhibited nonphysiological mitral regurgitation (MR) and/or aortic regurgitation (AR) were referred to the Doppler echocardiography laboratory of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Universidade Federal of Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG) to undergo a second Doppler echocardiography examination. According to the findings, the cases of rheumatic heart disease were classified as definitive, probable, or possible. Results: Of the 267 students, 1 (0.37%) had a clinical history compatible with the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and portable Doppler echocardiography indicated nonphysiological MR and/or AR in 25 (9.4%). Of these, 16 (6%) underwent Doppler echocardiography at HC-UFMG. The results showed definitive rheumatic heart disease in 1 student, probable rheumatic heart disease in 3 students, and possible rheumatic heart disease in 1 student. Conclusion: In the population under study, the prevalence of cases compatible with rheumatic involvement was 5 times higher on Doppler echocardiography (18.7/1000; 95% CI 6.9/1000-41.0/1000) than on clinical evaluation (3.7/1000-95% CI). .

Fundamento: Estudos indicam que o Doppler ecocardiograma possibilita a identificação de um maior número de casos de valvopatia reumática, quando comparado ao exame clínico, em indivíduos aparentemente saudáveis. Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de valvopatia sugestiva de envolvimento reumático segundo as avaliações clínicas e Doppler ecardiográficas em alunos de escola pública de Belo Horizonte. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 267 escolares entre 6 e 16 anos, selecionados de forma aleatória. Os alunos foram submetidos à anamnese e exame físico com o objetivo de estabelecer critérios prévios para o diagnóstico de febre reumática. Todos realizaram o estudo Doppler ecocardiográfico com o emprego de um aparelho portátil. Aqueles que apresentaram regurgitação valvar mitral (RM) e ou aórtica (RAo) sugestiva de não fisiológica foram encaminhados ao laboratório de Doppler ecocardiografia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG) para a realização de novo estudo. Conforme os achados, os casos de valvopatia reumática foram classificados em definitiva, provável e possível. Resultados: Dos 267 escolares, um (0,37%) apresentou história compatível com o diagnóstico de febre reumática aguda (FRA), 25 (9,4%) apresentaram RM e/ou RAo consideradas não fisiológicas ao Doppler ecocardiograma portátil. Destes, 16 (6%) realizaram Doppler ecocardiograma no HC-UFMG, sendo evidenciadas: valvopatia reumática definitiva em um escolar; valvopatia reumática provável em três; valvopatia reumática possível em um escolar. Conclusão: Na população estudada a prevalência de casos compatíveis com envolvimento reumático foi cinco vezes maior ...

Type and severity of valvular involvement in pediatric rheumatic heart disease patients

To assess frequency and severity of type of valvular involvement in pediatric patients with Rheumatic Heart Disease. This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Cardiology Children Hospital Complex, Multan from April 2008 to April 2010. The data of all pediatric patients below 15 years of age undergoing detailed cardiac evaluation including ECG, X-Ray and Echocardiography were reviewed. Only new cases of Rheumatic Heart Disease were studied for type and severity of valvular involvement. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 13. A total of 2381 echocardiograms were performed during the study period. 190 [08%] patients were diagnosed as having Rheumatic Heart Disease. Mitral regurgitation was the commonest lesion: In 148 [77.9%] patients mitral regurgitation was found either alone [104, 54.7%] or in combination [44, 23.2%] with other lesions. In 50 [26.3%] patients aortic regurgitation was found either alone [06, 3.2%] or in combination [44, 23.2%] with other lesions. Mitral stenosis was found in only 14 [7.4%] patients. No patient had Rheumatic tricuspid or pulmonary valve. Amongst mitral regurgitation patients 54 [28.4%] had severe MR, 76 [40%] had moderate MR and 18 [9.5%] had mild MR. Amongst aortic regurgitation patients 06 [3.2%] had severe AR, 18 [9.5%] had moderate AR and 26 [13.7%] had mild AR. The commonest combination lesion was MR + AR which was found in 44 [23.2%] patients. The commonest valve involved in patients with Rheumatic Heart Disease was mitral valve followed by aortic valve. Regurgitant lesions are much more common in our younger age group patients as compared to the adult Rheumatic patients in whom mitral stenosis is usually the common lesion

Doença arterial coronariana em pacientes com valvopatia reumática e não-reumática acompanhados em hospital público do Rio de Janeiro / Coronary artery disease in patients with rheumatic and non-rheumatic valvular heart disease treated at a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência de doença arterial coronariana (DAC) na valvopatia de etiologia reumática e não-reumática, examinando possíveis fatores preditivos da presença da doença. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, de série de casos obtidos em população pré-definida. Foram avaliados 1.412 pacientes com indicação de cirurgia cardíaca por qualquer etiologia. Destes, foram encontrados e estudados 294 casos com valvopatia primária de etiologias reumática e não-reumática, com idade > 40 anos, submetidos a coronariografia. RESULTADOS: Os valvopatas reumáticos apresentaram menor prevalência de DAC (4 por cento) que os não-reumáticos (33,61 por cento) (p < 0,0001). O modelo de regressão logística evidenciou que idade, dor torácica típica, hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS), diabete melito e dislipidemia estavam significativamente relacionados à DAC, e que a etiologia reumática não era determinante da doença. Tabagismo e sexo revelaram-se de importância clínica na DAC, embora sem significância estatística. No grupo total, o modelo de análise Log linear demonstrou que, independentemente da etiologia, sexo, idade > 55 anos, HAS, dor torácica típica, diabete e dislipidemia se relacionavam diretamente com a DAC, sendo as três últimas as variáveis de maior peso para a doença. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de DAC é baixa entre valvopatas reumáticos e mais alta entre não-reumáticos; a etiologia reumática não parece exercer efeito protetor sobre a prevalência de DAC; e as variáveis sexo, idade, HAS, dor torácica típica, dislipidemia e diabete melito foram identificadas como fortemente associadas à presença de DAC. É possível definir critérios de indicação de coronariografia pré-operatória nas trocas valvares, podendo-se evitar a indicação rotineira a partir dos 40 anos.

OBJECTIVE: to estimate the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in valvular heart disease of rheumatic (RVHD) and non-rheumatic (NVHD) etiology, assessing possible predictive factors for the presence of CAD. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of a series of cases obtained from a pre-defined population, wherein 1,412 patients referred for heart surgery of any etiology were evaluated. Of these, 294 primary heart disease patients aged >40 submitted to cinecoronary arteriography (CA) were identified and studied. RESULTS: patients with RVHD presented lower prevalence of CAD (4 percent) when compared to NVHD (33.61 percent), p<0.0001. The logistic regression analysis showed that age, typical angina-like chest pain (TACP), systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), diabetes and dyslipidemia were significantly related to CAD, and that the rheumatic etiology was not a disease determinant. Smoking and gender were clinically important in CAD, although not statistically significant. In the whole group, the Log-linear analysis showed that, regardless of the etiology, gender, age >55, SAH, TACP, diabetes and dyslipidemia were all related directly to CAD, with the latter three being the most important variables for the disease. CONCLUSION: the prevalence of CAD among RVHD patients is low, whereas it is high among NVHD patients; the rheumatic etiology does not seem to have any beneficial effects on the prevalence of CAD; gender, age, SAH, TACP, dyslipidemia and diabetes were identified as being strongly associated with the presence of CAD. It is possible to define the criteria that indicate the need for pre-surgical CA in heart valve replacements, so that the standard indication after the age of 40 years can be avoided.

Echocardiographic diagnosis of organic and functional mitral regurgitation in Yemeni population

Cardiovascular disease is one of the major health problems all over the world. Yemen is one of the least developed countries in the Gulf and cardiovascular diseases contribute a big economic burden. Echocardiography has revolutionized the practice of cardiology and its role as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for both congenital and acquired cardiac lesions, however complex is well established. Along with 2-D, M mode and Doppler. New echocardiographic modalities like stress Echo, tissue Doppler, harmonic imaging and contrast echocardiography are also emerging in Yemen. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of both organic and functional mitral regurgitation [MR] by echocardiography in our population. Using Sonos 1000 and 5500 HP Echocardiography machines, all the cases of MR diagnosed over the past 6 months in Al-Thawra Modern Teaching Hospital, Sana'a, were retrospectively reviewed. Mitral regurgitation was classified as organic if the mitral apparatus was found to be abnormal, and functional in the case of MR with a normal looking mitral valve. A total of thirteen hundred and thirty cases of MR were diagnosed during the study period. The mean age was 44.7 years with a standard deviation [SD] of +/- 19.4 and the age group of 51-60 years was the dominant group making up 20.8%. Mitral regurgitation was slightly more common in males than females with 56.5% vs 43.5%. Functional MR was slightly more common than organic [51 .7% vs 48.3%]. Rheumatic heart disease [22.9%] was the most common cause of organic MR while Mitral valve prolapse was only found in 6.3% of this group. Hypertensive heart disease 21 .7% was the most frequent etiology of functional MR. On the basis of severity, mild MR was the diagnosis in 65.5%, trivial in 15.4%, moderate in 12.9% and severe MR was found in 5.7%

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in school children in Bikaner: an echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) using clinical and echocardiographic criteria and to study influence of socioeconomic status (SES) we studied school children in a north-western Indian town. METHODS: 3292 school children, age range 5-14 years, in two private schools, ten middle SES government schools and six low SES government schools were invited to participate in the study. 3002 (1837 boys, 1165 girls) were clinically examined (response 91%) of which 1042 were in private schools, 1002 in middle SES schools and 958 in low SES schools. Prevalence of cardiac murmurs and RHD based on clinical diagnosis was determined in school by a trained team of physicians. Those with a murmur were further evaluated by Doppler-echocardiography in the hospital. Group-specific and age-specific rates (prevalence/thousand) of murmurs and cardiac lesions were determined. RESULTS: A significant cardiac murmur was observed in 55 subjects (18.3/1000) with similar prevalence in boys (20.7) and girls (14.6). The prevalence of murmur was significantly greater in children belonging to low SES schools (29.2/1000) as compared to middle SES (18.9) and higher SES schools (7.6). RHD prevalence based on clinical diagnosis was observed in 50 children (16.7/1000) and was similar in boys (19.1) and girls (12.9). Clinical RHD was more in the low SES school children (28.2/1000) as compared to middle (17.0) and high SES schools (5.8). RHD was demonstrated on echocardiography in 2 children (0.67/1000). Other prevalent cardiac lesions were congenital heart disease in 5 (1.66/1000) and mitral valve prolapse in 37 (12.3/1000). CONCLUSIONS: There is a low prevalence of RHD in school children in this region compared to previous Indian studies. Cardiac murmurs are more prevalent among low SES children.

Insuficiência valvar mitral isquêmica: incidência, diagnóstico e tratamento cirúrgico / The Influence of Atrial Fibrillation in the Natural History of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

PURPOSE--To study the incidence of ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) and the mortality. METHODS--One-hundred-five cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with MR were reviewed. Patients were divided in two groups: group A-59 (56.2 per cent) necropsied patients without previous surgical procedures to correlate clinical pictures with the aim to determine the cause of death; group B-46 (43.8 per cent) patients were submitted to surgical treatment. This group was subdivided in mild, moderate and severe forms of MR, and studied comparatively the type of surgical treatment and its evolution. RESULTS--Group A-23 (39 per cent) patients with mild forms and predominant ischemic heart disease, responsible for death; 18 (30.5 per cent) patients without previous diagnosis, masked by myocardial failure and 18 (30.5 per cent) with severe MR and coronary heart disease; group B-14 (30.4 per cent) patients died at the immediate post-operatory period. Higher mortality associated to ejection fraction (EF) below 35 per cent (47.6 per cent; p = 0.022), severe MR (41.7 per cent; p = 0.044) and cardiogenic shock (52.9 per cent; p = 0.14). In 41 (89.1 per cent), the mitral valve repair was combined to coronary artery bypass grafting operation (CABG), in 4 (8.7 per cent) this last procedure was made without mitral repair and in the remaining patients the surgery was limited to the valve. Mitral valvuloplasty was performed in 23 (50 per cent) patients with 3 (13 per cent) deaths, and in 19 (42.3 per cent) the mitral valve was replaced with 9 (47.4 per cent) deaths. CONCLUSION--The prognosis is related to the grade of EF and to the severity of MR. In mild to moderate forms, the surgical indication is due to the associated coronary heart disease and the valvuloplasty is preferred, in this instance. In severe forms, surgical intervention must be performed as soon as possible, before cardiogenic shock appears

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in school children.

A total number of 8449 school children, in the 5-15 years old, group were examined clinically for evidence of valvular lesions and confirmed by roentgenographic electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings. Twelve children (0.14%) were suffering from rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The disease was significantly more (p < 0.05) prevalent in the higher age group of 11-15 years as compared to younger children. Boys (0.18%) were affected more than girls (0.09%). The disease was more frequent among children belonging to economically backward group (0.34%) and those living in large families (0.28%). Children living in the slums had significantly (p < 0.05) higher prevalence (0.41%) than those residing in urban areas (0.06%). Only 3 out of 12 (25%) were previously diagnosed cases and remaining were diagnosed for the first time. Past history of rheumatic activity was seen in 41.67% cases. Mitral valve involvement was most frequent, being detected in 10 (83.33%) cases. Majority of cases (58.33%) had the development of symptomatic RHD within 2 years of having suffered from RF. Our study helped to detect the hitherto undiagnosed cases of RHD and showed that its prevalence was higher in older children and those from urban slums.