Rheumatic heart disease is a result of what condition?

Rheumatic heart disease is a result of what condition?

• A. Endocarditis.
• B. Pericarditis.
• C. A result of rheumatic fever, causing inflammation and necrosis of heart tissue.
• D. Myocarditis.

Answer: (C)

Rheumatic heart disease is the chronic heart-valve damage that follows an episode of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune reaction triggered by a group A streptococcal throat infection. During the acute illness it can inflame all heart layers (pancarditis), and the healing process leaves scar tissue on the valves, especially the mitral valve, leading to valvular stenosis or regurgitation later on. So the best description is that rheumatic heart disease is a result of rheumatic fever, causing inflammation and subsequent scarring of heart tissue that damages the valves.

Rheumatic heart disease is the chronic heart-valve damage that follows an episode of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune reaction triggered by a group A streptococcal throat infection. During the acute illness it can inflame all heart layers (pancarditis), and the healing process leaves scar tissue on the valves, especially the mitral valve, leading to valvular stenosis or regurgitation later on. So the best description is that rheumatic heart disease is a result of rheumatic fever, causing inflammation and subsequent scarring of heart tissue that damages the valves.