World Heart Federation criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease--an evidence-based guideline.

ABSTRACT: Over the past 5 years, the advent of echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has revealed a higher RHD burden than previously thought. In light of this global experience, the development of new international echocardiographic guidelines that address the full spectrum of the rheumatic disease process is opportune. Systematic differences in the reporting of and diagnostic approach to RHD exist, reflecting differences in local experience and disease patterns. The World Heart Federation echocardiographic criteria for RHD have, therefore, been developed and are formulated on the basis of the best available evidence. Three categories are defined on the basis of assessment by 2D, continuous-wave, and color-Doppler echocardiography: 'definite RHD', 'borderline RHD', and 'norm

SUBMITTER: Remenyi B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5523449 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature