International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 11/Apr/2022;36:e20210093.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Positron Emission Tomography in the Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Acute Rheumatic Fever – Case Report
David Salazar
, Cristhian Espinoza Romero
, Mariana Pezzute Lopes
, Carlos Eduardo de Barros Branco
, José Soares Junior
, Antonio de Santis
, Roney Orismar Sampaio
, Flávio Tarasoutchi
Introduction
Rheumatic fever (RF) is a prevalent condition in developing countries, accounting for a cardiac mortality of rate 7.9% in Brazil (DATASUS). Cases of rheumatic fever are often underdiagnosed and recognized only after permanent valve damage due to previous carditis. Secondary prevention of RF aims to limit the development and/or progression of valvular lesions and their complications. However, even on therapy with benzathine penicillin every 21 days, patients may experience recurrence of acute RF, making diagnosis a greater challenge. The development of new diagnostic methods can contribute to the early detection of rheumatic carditis (RC) considering that 90% of cases are subclinical. In addition, not only the usual gallium-67 scintigraphy, but also, tests such as cardiac nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET-CT) may have the potential to be diagnostic tools in acute rheumatic carditis. However, more studies are needed to validate these methods. ,
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