Rheumatic heart disease causes what change to the valve/leaflets?

Rheumatic heart disease causes what change to the valve/leaflets?

• A. Valvular degeneration and thickening
• B. Valve rupture
• C. Calcification only
• D. No change

Answer: (A)

Rheumatic heart disease arises from an immune-mediated inflammation of the heart valves after a streptococcal infection, which produces progressive damage to the leaflets. The hallmark change is leaflet thickening with fibrotic degeneration and scarring, often with fusion of the commissures over time. This thickening and degeneration deform the leaflets and lead to stenosis or regurgitation as the disease progresses. It’s not typically characterized by acute rupture of the valve, nor by calcification alone, and some change is almost always present. In ultrasound, you’d look for thickened, restricted leaflets with possible commissural fusion and later calcification as the disease advances.

Rheumatic heart disease arises from an immune-mediated inflammation of the heart valves after a streptococcal infection, which produces progressive damage to the leaflets. The hallmark change is leaflet thickening with fibrotic degeneration and scarring, often with fusion of the commissures over time. This thickening and degeneration deform the leaflets and lead to stenosis or regurgitation as the disease progresses. It’s not typically characterized by acute rupture of the valve, nor by calcification alone, and some change is almost always present. In ultrasound, you’d look for thickened, restricted leaflets with possible commissural fusion and later calcification as the disease advances.