ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FEATURES IN CHILDREN WITH
RHEUMATIC CARDITIS
Han X-ZH, Zhuang J-X, Wang J-R
Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, China
Objective: To
evaluate the extent of damage of heart and the value of echocardiography in
children with rheumatic carditis (RC).
Methods: The
electrocardiogram （ECG） and
echocardiography data were analysed in 228 children with RC, the diagnostic
sensitivities of cardiac enlargement by two methods were compared and the
echocardiographic changes after treatment were observed.
Results: 166
cases (72.8%) had abnormal ECG, in which atrioventricular block (AVB) was
the most common finding (67 cases, 40.4%); In 166 cases examined by
echocardiography before treatment, 162 cases had different degrees of
cardiac enlargement, in which enlargement of LA (left atrium) constitute
the majority (104 cases, 62.7% )，all
children had changes of cardiac valves, mainly displaying as mitral
regurgitation (MR), mitral thickening(MT), mitral stenosis and aortic
regurgitation, in which MR ranks first ( 108 cases，65.1%). The
diagnostic sensitivity of enlargement of LA or LV(left ventricle) by
echocardiography was both much higher than that by ECG. Decreased cardiac
functions such as EF, CI and E/A detected by echocardiography were found in
some patients. MR and MT detected by echocardiography can disappear after
regular anti-rheumatic therapy for 12 weeks.
Conclusions: Echocardiographic
examination plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of
rheumatic carditis in children.