The aim of this study was to determine whether left ventricular dilation and congestive
heart failure in patients with acute rheumatic fever with carditis are accompanied
by left ventricular contractile dysfunction.
Acute rheumatic fever with carditis involves both the myocardium and endocardium,
with consequent valvular regurgitation. The relative contribution of volume overload
induced by valvular regurgitation and myocardial dysfunction due to rheumatic myocarditis
to the overall degree of left ventricular dilation and congestive heart failure in
these patients is unknown.
To investigate this, we evaluated 32 patients (15 male, 17 female, mean age 14 +/-
3 years) with documented active carditis and congestive heart failure. All 32 patients
were found to have significant isolated mitral regurgitation or combined mitral and
aortic regurgitation. Echocardiographic analysis of left ventricular dimensions and
systolic performance was performed before and after isolated mitral or combined mitral
and aortic valve replacement and the results were compared with those in 19 control
subjects matched for age, gender and body surface area.
Both preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and percent fractional shortening
were significantly increased in patients compared with control subjects (57 +/- 7
vs. 43 +/- 3 mm, p < 0.001, and 38 +/- 6% vs. 33 +/- 1%, p < 0.001, respectively).
After valve replacement, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased significantly
(57 +/- 7 to 47 +/- 6 mm, p < 0.001). Although percent fractional shortening decreased
significantly postoperatively (38 +/- 6% to 32 +/- 6%, p < 0.001), the postoperative
percent fractional shortening did not differ from that in control subjects (32 +/-
6% vs. 33 +/- 1%, p = NS).
The results of this study indicate that left ventricular dilation and heart failure
in patients with acute rheumatic carditis rarely occur in the absence of hemodynamically
significant regurgitant valve lesions. Furthermore, rapid reduction in left ventricular
dimensions and preservation of fractional shortening after isolated mitral or combined
mitral and aortic valve replacement suggest that rheumatic carditis is not accompanied
by any significant degree of myocardial contractile dysfunction.