Disease or Syndrome
rheumatic heart disease
rheu·mat·ic heart dis·ease
Subclass of:
Rheumatic Fever; Heart Diseases
Definitions related to rheumatic heart disease:
  • A consequence of acute rheumatic fever that causes chronic cardiac valve damage and/or dysfunction.
    NICHD Pediatric Terminology
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • An autoinflammatory condition following an infection with Group A Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS), in which the heart is attacked by antibodies formed in reaction to a recent GABHS infection. Chief anatomic changes of the valve include leaflet thickening, commissural fusion, and shortening and thickening of the tendinous cords, all of which can result in valvular dysfunction.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Cardiac manifestation of systemic rheumatological conditions, such as RHEUMATIC FEVER. Rheumatic heart disease can involve any part the heart, most often the HEART VALVES and the ENDOCARDIUM.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • Most important manifestation and sequel to rheumatic fever, consisting chiefly of heart valve deformities.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.