Rheumatic Fever and Infective Endocarditis: A Review

Abstract

Aims: Gather relevant literature, understand and expose the mechanism by which Rheumatic Fever can trigger Endocarditis Method: This is a narrative review, where the following descriptors were used as a source of research: Endocarditis; Rheumatic Fever; Bacterial Endocarditis; in the Scielo, PubMed, LILACS, BVS and MEDLINE databases. Methodology: This is a narrative review, where the following descriptors were used as a source of research: Endocarditis; Rheumatic Fever; Bacterial Endocarditis; in the Scielo, PubMed, LILACS, BVS and MEDLINE databases. Results: It is observed that rheumatic fever mainly affects children and adolescents. The immune response triggered by the streptococcal infection results in the production of antibodies that can cross-react with tissues of the body itself, leading to inflammation and damage. This cross-reactivity is an important characteristic of rheumatic fever. Endocarditis is one of the main complications of rheumatic fever and can affect the mural endocardium and frequently the heart valves. The pathophysiology of both diseases and the existing epidemiological data show that the alteration of blood flow near the heart valves damaged by rheumatic fever results in an endocardial lesion and migration of bacteria present in the circulation. Conclusion: Patients affected by rheumatic fever, present a close relationship with the development of infective endocarditis. From the literature review, it is clear how both conditions are related and require attention because of their complications.