Abstract:
Rheumatic
heart
disease
is
cardiac
inflammation
and
scarring triggered by an autoimmune reaction to infection
with group A streptococci. The aim of the research is to
evaluate the valve of the heart and the severity of valvular
lesion in rheumatic heart disease patients by ultrasound
(echocardiography), in order to help in the treatment of the
disease.
This study was prospective, descriptive and analytic study. The study
followed
the
global
protocol
to
achieve
examination
of
the
echocardiography. The heart ultrasound (echocardiography) was done by
using direct adhesion technology with convex and sector transducers with
frequency ranges between 2 to 4MH.
Data was analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science). The
number of patients included in the study was (60) patients. The male patients
were more than female in the sample (72.1% and 27.9%, respectively). The
mean of their ages was 40years; the results shows high frequency of
degenerative valve disease like mixed valves disease, isolated mitral
stenosis, isolated aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis.
Valvular changes in Rheumatic heart disease are detectable by conventional
ultrasound only in very advanced stages of the disease. The study
recommended using echocardiography routinely in the diagnosis and
treatment units of rheumatic heart disease and follow up patients with
rheumatic heart disease and it also recommended that the research could
constitute a base for further research in this field.
