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==Overview==
==Overview==
Rheumatic fever is the result of an autoimmunological sequela to a virulent ''[[Streptococcus pyogenes]]'' infection in a patient who was immunologically sensitized from prior infections. During a streptococcal infection, activated antigen presenting cells such as [[macrophage]]s, present the bacterial antigen to [[helper T cells]]. Helper T cells subsequently activate B cells and induce the production of antibodies against the cell wall of ''[[Streptococcus]]''. However the antibodies also act against the [[myocardium]] and [[joint]]s, producing the symptoms of rheumatic fever.<ref name=WPatho> Rheumatic Fever. Wikipedia (2015). http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatic-fever/basics/causes/con-20031399 Accessed on October 12, 2015 </ref>
Rheumatic fever is the result of an autoimmunological sequela to a virulent ''[[Streptococcus pyogenes]]'' infection in a patient who was immunologically sensitized from prior infections. During a streptococcal infection, activated antigen presenting cells such as [[macrophage]]s, present the bacterial antigen to [[helper T cells]]. Helper T cells subsequently activate [[B cells]] and induce the production of [[antibodies]] against the cell wall of ''[[Streptococcus]]''. However the antibodies also act against the [[myocardium]] and [[joint]]s, producing the symptoms of rheumatic fever.<ref name=WPatho> Rheumatic Fever. Wikipedia (2015). http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatic-fever/basics/causes/con-20031399 Accessed on October 12, 2015 </ref>


==Pathophysiology==
==Pathophysiology==
===Pathogenesis===
===Pathogenesis===
*Rheumatic fever is the result of an autoimmunological sequela to a virulent ''[[Streptococcus pyogenes]]'' infection in a patient who was immunologically sensitized from prior infections, affecting periarteriolar connective tissue.
*Rheumatic fever is the result of an autoimmunological sequela to a virulent ''[[Streptococcus pyogenes]]'' infection in a patient who was immunologically sensitized from prior infections, affecting periarteriolar connective tissue.
*Usually, self reactive [[B cell]]s remain anergic in the periphery without [[T cell]] co-stimulation.
*During a streptococcal infection, activated antigen presenting cells such as [[macrophage]]s, present the bacterial antigen to helper T cells.
*During a streptococcal infection, activated antigen presenting cells, such as [[macrophage]]s, present the bacterial antigen to helper T cells.
**[[Helper T cell]]s subsequently activate B cells and induce the production of antibodies against the cell wall of ''[[Streptococcus]]''.  
**[[Helper T cell]]s subsequently activate B cells and induce the production of antibodies against the cell wall of ''[[Streptococcus]]''.  
*However the antibodies may also act against the myocardium and joints, producing the symptoms of rheumatic fever.
*However the antibodies may also act against the myocardium and joints, producing the symptoms of rheumatic fever.
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**Repeated infections by ''Streptococcus pyogenes'' will cause both a heightened protective and pathological immune response.
**Repeated infections by ''Streptococcus pyogenes'' will cause both a heightened protective and pathological immune response.


In acute rheumatic fever:
===Acute rheumatic fever===
*These lesions may occur in endocardium, myocardium or pericardium.
*Lesions may occur in endocardium, myocardium or pericardium.
**The inflammation may cause serofibrinous pericardial exudates described as “bread-and-butter” [[pericarditis]], which usually resolves without sequelae.
**The inflammation may cause serofibrinous pericardial exudates described as “bread-and-butter” [[pericarditis]], which usually resolves without sequelae.
*Involvement of the endocardium typically results in [[fibrinoid necrosis]] and verrucae formation along the lines of closure of the left heart valves.
*Involvement of the endocardium typically results in [[fibrinoid necrosis]] and verrucae formation along the lines of closure of the left heart valves.
*Warty projections arise from the deposition, while subendothelial lesions may induce irregular thickenings called [[MacCallum plaques]].<ref name="pmid18306530">{{cite journal| author=Chopra P, Gulwani H| title=Pathology and pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease. | journal=Indian J Pathol Microbiol | year= 2007 | volume= 50 | issue= 4 | pages= 685-97 | pmid=18306530 | doi= | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=18306530  }} </ref>
*Warty projections arise from the deposition, while subendothelial lesions may induce irregular thickenings called [[MacCallum plaques]].<ref name="pmid18306530">{{cite journal| author=Chopra P, Gulwani H| title=Pathology and pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease. | journal=Indian J Pathol Microbiol | year= 2007 | volume= 50 | issue= 4 | pages= 685-97 | pmid=18306530 | doi= | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=18306530  }} </ref>
===Chronic rheumatic fever===
*Lesions may occur in the [[mitral valve]].
*Valve thickening may result in [[stenosis]] or [[regurgitation]].


===Gross===
===Gross===
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Image:Rheumatic fever 002.jpg|[[Mitral]] scarring: gross, an example of mitral scarring due to rheumatic fever (healing phase of an infectious lesion)  
Image:Rheumatic fever 002.jpg|[[Mitral]] scarring: gross, an example of mitral scarring due to rheumatic fever (healing phase of an infectious lesion)  


Image:Rheumatic mitral valvulitis.jpg|Rheumatic [[mitral]] [[valvulitis]]: gross, rheumatic mitral valvulitis: Gross, an example of [[fibrosis]], [[chorda tympani|chorda]] thickening and shortening with [[thrombus]] around the large left atrium
Image:Rheumatic mitral valvulitis.jpg|Rheumatic [[mitral]] [[valvulitis]]: gross, an example of [[fibrosis]], [[chorda tympani|chorda]] thickening and shortening with [[thrombus]] around the large left atrium


Image:ARF mitral valve.jpg|Rheumatic [[mitral]] [[valvulitis]]: Gross, an example of acute rheumatic fever lesion along line of closure of mitral valve  
Image:ARF mitral valve.jpg|Rheumatic [[mitral]] [[valvulitis]]: gross, an example of acute rheumatic fever lesion along line of closure of mitral valve  


Image:Rheumatic fever 003.jpg|[[Mitral]] valve: gross, acute rheumatic fever  
Image:Rheumatic fever 003.jpg|[[Mitral]] valve: gross, acute rheumatic fever  

Revision as of 20:08, 30 October 2015

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Lance Christiansen, D.O.; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Anthony Gallo, B.S. [3]

Overview

Rheumatic fever is the result of an autoimmunological sequela to a virulent Streptococcus pyogenes infection in a patient who was immunologically sensitized from prior infections. During a streptococcal infection, activated antigen presenting cells such as macrophages, present the bacterial antigen to helper T cells. Helper T cells subsequently activate B cells and induce the production of antibodies against the cell wall of Streptococcus. However the antibodies also act against the myocardium and joints, producing the symptoms of rheumatic fever.[1]

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

  • Rheumatic fever is the result of an autoimmunological sequela to a virulent Streptococcus pyogenes infection in a patient who was immunologically sensitized from prior infections, affecting periarteriolar connective tissue.
  • During a streptococcal infection, activated antigen presenting cells such as macrophages, present the bacterial antigen to helper T cells.
  • However the antibodies may also act against the myocardium and joints, producing the symptoms of rheumatic fever.
    • Contrary to the immunological protection developed during most infections, infections by Streptococcus pyogenes cause both a protective immunological and pathological autoimmunological stimulation.
    • Repeated infections by Streptococcus pyogenes will cause both a heightened protective and pathological immune response.

Acute rheumatic fever

  • Lesions may occur in endocardium, myocardium or pericardium.
    • The inflammation may cause serofibrinous pericardial exudates described as “bread-and-butter” pericarditis, which usually resolves without sequelae.
  • Involvement of the endocardium typically results in fibrinoid necrosis and verrucae formation along the lines of closure of the left heart valves.
  • Warty projections arise from the deposition, while subendothelial lesions may induce irregular thickenings called MacCallum plaques.[2]

Chronic rheumatic fever

Gross

On gross pathology, the following features are characteristic findings of rheumatic fever:[3]

  • "Fish-mouth appearance"
    • Slit-like morphology; elliptical cross-sectional flow area (mitral valve) with abnormally small semi-minor axis axis due to valve thickening
  • Significant valvular thickening
  • Thickening and shortening of the chorda tympani

Microscopic histopathological analysis

On microscopic histopathological analysis, the following features are characteristic findings of rheumatic fever:[3][4]

Images

The following are gross and microscopic images associated with rheumatic fever:[5]

References

  1. Rheumatic Fever. Wikipedia (2015). http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatic-fever/basics/causes/con-20031399 Accessed on October 12, 2015
  2. Chopra P, Gulwani H (2007). "Pathology and pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease". Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 50 (4): 685–97. PMID 18306530.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Rheumatic Heart Disease. Libre Pathology (2015). http://librepathology.org/wiki/index.php/Heart_valves#Rheumatic_heart_disease Accessed on October 12, 2015
  4. Cotran, Ramzi S.; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Robbins, Stanley L.; Abbas, Abul K. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1.
  5. Pathology Education Instructional Resource. University of Alabama at Birmingham (2014). Images courtesy of Propessor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission of PEIR, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham. http://www.peir.net Accessed on October 12, 2015.


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