Severe rheumatic mitral stenosis: a 21st century medusa

Arch Intern Med. 2011 Sep 12;171(16):1498-9. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.368.

Abstract

Although the prevalence of rheumatic fever has greatly decreased in developed countries, rheumatic mitral stenosis still causes significant morbidity and mortality. Symptomatic patients have a poor prognosis, with a 0 to 15% 10-year survival rate, particularly if percutaneous or surgical intervention are contraindicated or considered high risk. We present a case of severe rheumatic mitral stenosis with an evolution over 4 decades, in which exceptional venous distention has established.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation / etiology
  • Cachexia / diagnosis
  • Cachexia / etiology
  • Dyspnea / diagnosis
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Endocarditis / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / etiology*
  • Rheumatic Heart Disease / complications*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography
  • Venous Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Venous Insufficiency / etiology*