[Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: immunological studies]

A total of 216 patients with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart from the Institute of Rheumatology and 126 patients with rheumatic heart diseases alone from the Center of Cardiosurgery were clinically and immunologically studied. The immunological study included the detection of b-hemolytic group A streptococcus, O-antistreptolysin, the measurement of C-reactive protein, immunoglobulins, C3, C4, Ciq-binding, anticardiolipin antibodies, etc. The findings indicated that the secondary penicillin prophylaxis prevents streptococcal pharyngitis and recurrence of acute rheumatic fever after 5 years. The high levels of Ciq-binding and anticardiolipin antibodies were directly proportional to the incidence rates of acute endocarditis and associated with the occurrence of venous and arterial thromboses.