PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE

PREDISPOSING FAC- ETIOLOGY

TORS
Group A Beta-Haemolytic Strep-
•Past history of Rheumatic tococcus
Fever

PRECIPITATING FAC-
TORS
Bind to receptors in the syn-
ovial joint Smoking

Increase Production of Anti-

gen

Autoimmune response Strep-

tococcal Infection
Antigen circulates to the sys-
tem Infection
Streptococcal

Body attacks own cells

Autoimmune response at-
tacks the heart valves

Inflammation of the layers of

the heart

Increase cardiac workload

Scarring of the heart valves

 Decrease cardiac supply of
blood in different organs

Decrease blood in bone mar-

row

Blood Cell Production slows

down

Decreases RBC production Decreases WBC production

Decrease hemoglobin and

Decreases immune defense
iron

Decrease Oxygen in the body Increase risk for infection

S/SX
Fever
Shortness of breath
Dyspnea
(+) Joint Pain