Rheumatic fever predisposes to which long-term valvular lesion most prominently?

Rheumatic fever predisposes to which long-term valvular lesion most prominently?

• A. Mitral stenosis
• B. Aortic regurgitation
• C. Tricuspid regurgitation
• D. Pulmonary stenosis

Answer: (A)

Chronic rheumatic heart disease stems from immune-mediated damage after rheumatic fever, leading to fibrous scarring of the valves. The mitral valve is the valve most commonly affected, and over time this inflammation causes fusion of the commissures, thickening of the leaflets, and shortening of the chordae. These changes narrow the valve orifice, producing mitral stenosis as the most prominent long-term lesion. The result is elevated left atrial pressure and potential pulmonary hypertension, along with risks like atrial enlargement and atrial fibrillation. While rheumatic involvement can affect other valves, the chronic, dominant lesion is mitral stenosis.

Chronic rheumatic heart disease stems from immune-mediated damage after rheumatic fever, leading to fibrous scarring of the valves. The mitral valve is the valve most commonly affected, and over time this inflammation causes fusion of the commissures, thickening of the leaflets, and shortening of the chordae. These changes narrow the valve orifice, producing mitral stenosis as the most prominent long-term lesion. The result is elevated left atrial pressure and potential pulmonary hypertension, along with risks like atrial enlargement and atrial fibrillation. While rheumatic involvement can affect other valves, the chronic, dominant lesion is mitral stenosis.