Two Years of Follow-Up Validates the Echocardiographic Criteria for the Diagnosis and Screening of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Asymptomatic Populations

Abstract

Highlight of the study is the greater reversibility of earlier lesions as compared to the later stages of RHD. Spontaneous regression of isolated mitral valve thickening in two-thirds of the cases even without antibiotic prophylaxis, undermines the value of morphological criteria for the diagnosis of RHD.