A clinical case presentation of a 46-year-old woman with a history of recurrent rheumatic fever leading to severe mitral regurgitation, moderate aortic regurgitation, and congestive heart failure.
Illustrates multivalvular rheumatic heart disease progression in adulthood; leaves open questions on optimal intervention timing.
Presentation of CaseA 46-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of rheumatic heart disease.Between six and 18 years of age she had 18 episodes of rheumatic fever. At the age of 32 years digitoxin therapy was begun because of atrial fibrillation. Seventeen months before admission she entered another hospital for treatment of congestive heart failure. Cardiac catheterization revealed severe mitral regurgitation and moderate aortic regurgitation.The patient complained of moderate fatigue and dyspnea, with occasional edema and chest pain. There was no history of cough, wheezing, orthopnea or hemoptysis.The temperature was 37°C, the pulse 96 and . . .
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Cabot et al. (1974) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: