[Problems of rheumatoid heart defects]

Of 160 patients with RA treated at the clinic recently, heart disease was diagnosed in 4. In 2 patients, mitral disease was recognized as rheumatic, in one patient, aortal disease was treated with a great probability as rheumatoid. In 4 patients, rheumatoid etiology of the disease was advanced and then was confirmed at autopsy. It is assumed that rheumatoid heart disease occurs more frequently than diagnosed.