Authors:
Rémond MGW; AThe Kidsnson D; White A; Hodder Y; Brown ADH; Carapetis JR; et al
Authors notes:
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. 2012;12(111):1-8
Keywords:
Acute rheumatic fever, Indigenous, Prevention, Rheumatic heart disease
Abstract:
In Australia, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is almost exclusively restricted to Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander people with children being at highest risk.
International criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis of RHD have been developed but the significance of minor heart valve abnormalities which do not reach these criteria remains unclear.
The Rheumatic Fever Follow-Up Study (RhFFUS) aims to clarify this question in children and adolescents at high risk of RHD.
RhFFUS will determine if subtle changes on echocardiography represent the earliest changes of RHD or mere variations of normal heart anatomy.
In turn it will inform criteria to be used in determining whether secondary antibiotic prophylaxis should be utilized in individuals with no clear history of ARF and minor abnormalities on echocardiography.
RhFFUS will also inform the ongoing debate regarding the potential role of screening echocardiography for the detection of RHD in this setting.