Clinical outcomes and progression rate of tricuspid regurgitation in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Objective: A substantial proportion of patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) have tricuspid regurgitation (TR). This study aimed to identify the impact of functional TR on clinical outcomes and predictors of progression in a large population of patients with RHD.

Methods: A total of 645 patients with RHD were enrolled, mean age of 47±12 years, 85% female.

Progression of Mitral Regurgitation in Rheumatic Valve Disease: Role of Left Atrial Remodeling.

Introduction: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valve abnormality in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) often associated with stenosis. Although the mechanism by which MR develops in RHD is primary, longstanding volume overload with left atrial (LA) remodeling may trigger the development of secondary MR, which can impact on the overall progression of MR. This study is aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of MR progression in patients with RHD.

Recent Advances in the Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Continuum.

Nearly a century after rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) was eradicated from the developed world, the disease remains endemic in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with grim health and socioeconomic impacts. The neglect of RHD which persisted for a semi-centennial was further driven by competing infectious diseases, particularly the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. However, over the last two-decades, slowly at first but with building momentum, there has been a resurgence of interest in RF/RHD.

Systemic cytokines, chemokines and growth factors reveal specific and shared immunological characteristics in infectious cardiomyopathies.

Heart disease is a major cause of death worldwide. Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) caused by infection with Trypanosoma cruzi leading to high mortality in adults, and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), resulting from infection by Streptococcus pyogenes affecting mainly children and young adults, are amongst the deadliest heart diseases in low-middle income countries. Despite distinct etiology, the pathology associated with both diseases is a consequence of inflammation.

Decreased Cytokine Plasma Levels and Changes in T-Cell Activation Are Associated With Hemodynamic Improvement and Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Mitral Commissurotomy in Patients With Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis.

Mitral stenosis (MS) is a consequence of rheumatic heart disease that leads to heart failure requiring mechanical intervention. Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) is the treatment of choice for the intervention, and currently there are no soluble markers associated with hemodynamic improvement after PMC. This study aims to determine the changes in cytokine/chemokine plasma levels, as well as T cell activation after PMC, and to investigate their association with immediate hemodynamic improvement and clinical outcomes.