What are Aschoff bodies?

What are Aschoff bodies?

• A. Calcific deposits found in the mitral or aortic valves
• B. Fibrous deposits on atherosclerotic plaques
• C. Focal inflammatory lesions found in all layers of the heart
• D. Vegetations on the aortic valve

Answer: (C)

Aschoff bodies reflect myocarditis in acute rheumatic fever. They are focal inflammatory lesions in the heart consisting of central fibrinoid necrosis surrounded by activated macrophages (Anitschkow cells) and T lymphocytes. This granulomatous inflammation can involve all layers of the heart, especially the myocardium, and is a hallmark of the immune-mediated process that follows a streptococcal infection. They are not calcific deposits on valves, not fibrous deposits on atherosclerotic plaques, and not vegetations on the aortic valve, which are seen in other conditions.

Aschoff bodies reflect myocarditis in acute rheumatic fever. They are focal inflammatory lesions in the heart consisting of central fibrinoid necrosis surrounded by activated macrophages (Anitschkow cells) and T lymphocytes. This granulomatous inflammation can involve all layers of the heart, especially the myocardium, and is a hallmark of the immune-mediated process that follows a streptococcal infection. They are not calcific deposits on valves, not fibrous deposits on atherosclerotic plaques, and not vegetations on the aortic valve, which are seen in other conditions.