Targeted Echocardiographic Screening for Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease in Northern Uganda: Evaluating Familial Risk Following Identification of an Index Case.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Echocardiographic screening for detection of latent RHD has shown potential as a strategy to decrease the burden of disease. However, further research is needed to determine optimal implementation strategies. RHD results from a complex interplay between environment and host susceptibility. Family members share both and relatives of children with latent RHD may represent a high-risk group. The objective of this study was to use echocardiographic family screening to determine the relative risk of RHD among first-degree relatives of children with latent RHD compared to the risk in first-degree relatives of healthy peers.

Methodology/principal findings

Previous school-based screening data were used to identify RHD positive children and RHD negative peers. All first-de

SUBMITTER: Aliku T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4905680 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature