Rheumatic endocarditis
Clinical symptoms appear 8 to 10 days after the rheumatic attack.
Both forms, depending on their evolution may be acute, subacute and latent.
All of these symptoms are actually not characteristic of endocarditis but of the myocarditis which accompanies it. If the precordial aches are more severe, the pericardium may have been affected. If the pain is similarly located as the pains of stenocardia, then they could be due to rheumatic coronaritis.
As a result of these processes, the valves may become edematous and later on fibrous. Following treatment the valves may heal completely, or form cicatrices and never heal over properly.
This may occur 3-6 weeks later, and is characterized by a high tonality holosystolic sound which can be heard as the beat felt over the apex of the heart in the point of maximal impulse in the direction of the left axilla. It must not be confused with the systolic sound that can be heard at the apex of the heart from the very first days following the rheumatic attack and is related to the dilation of the heart and the loss of muscular tonus, as a consequence of the accompanying myocarditis.
In order for this condition to develop, it may take 6 weeks up to 2-3 months to develop. It is characterized by a diastolic sound of low of medium high tonality, which begin immediately following the second sound. The is aspirated in decrescendo and is spread in the direction of the apex of the heart, with aspirated, decrescendo character.
Mitral stenosis requires a longer period of time over which to develop, usually 4 to 6 months. In order for this condition to manifest certain acoustic phenomena related to the heart rhythm, it may take even longer, up to 2 years. It may begin as a short mesodiastolic sound at the apex of the heart and then transform into presystolic strain and diastolic murmur. More common phenomena include tachycardia, sinus bradycardia or extrasystolic arrhythmia. At times a galloping rhythm may be distinguished, which must not be confused with the physiological third physiological sound present in younger individuals.
This type of endocarditis is present in patients with pre-existing heart defects and who have suffered once or many times from rheumatic endocarditis. And in this way, a new verrucous process can be overlayed over the sclerotic valves and pre-existing defects; the new process is localized not only over the damaged valves, but also over the healthy ones.
The disease develops in waves, with intermittent periods of aggravation and relief. Depending on the form of endocarditis the fever may be high or subfebrile, and the palpitations, tachycardia, feeling of heaviness and precordial pain may increase.
In periods when the acute nature of the disease returns, the laboratorial changes become more pronounced.
In addition to the above, each time the disease returns the myocardium becomes gradually more susceptible to damage, and this may cause patients to suffer from cardiac insufficiency, a lot faster than a heart defect. Mitral defects are more common. The mitral valve is affected in 85% of patients with rheumatic defects.
Rheumatic endocarditis is an inflammation of the endocardium. The inflammatory process if mostly localized in the valve endocardium, the layer which covers the tendons and papillary muscles, and rarely the parietal endocardium may be affected.
Clinical symptoms appear 8 to 10 days after the rheumatic attack and they include: high fever (rises and falls periodically), extreme fatigue, rhythm disruptions, a feeling of heaviness and pain in the precordium, dyspnea (difficulties breathing).
The main cause for this disease is the betahaemolytic Streptococcus of group A, which is found in common infectious sites such as the mouth; in dental granulomas, dental abscesses, paradontosis, and other infections such as chronic tonsillitis. ÂÂÂ
A definitive diagnosis can be made via an objective examination which will involve investigating for auscultative symptoms, which are the only symptoms which can belie potential damage of the endocardium.
Rheumatic endocarditis patients may suffer from the following complications: rhythm disruptions (like arrhythmias), cardiac insufficienc (which often constitutes the most common cause of death of these patients), infarctions and embolisms, etc.
Prophylactic treatment is usually conducted via the use of antibiotics, just as in cases of acute rheumatic polyarthritis. Each time these patients suffer from bacterial infections they must be immediately medicated with antibiotics.