Rheumatic heart disease is a result of what condition?

• A. A result of rheumatic fever, causing inflammation and necrosis of heart tissue.
• B. Inflammation of the pericardium only.
• C. Bacterial infection of the heart muscle.
• D. Congenital abnormality of heart valves.

Answer: (A)

Rheumatic heart disease stems from rheumatic fever, an autoimmune reaction that occurs after a group A Streptococcus throat infection. The immune system makes antibodies to the bacteria, but some of these antibodies cross-react with heart tissue, triggering inflammation (pancarditis) and scarring. This inflammation harms heart valves, especially the mitral valve, leading to long‑term valvular deformities and dysfunction.

So the best answer reflects that rheumatic fever, not pericarditis alone, infective myocarditis, or a congenital valve issue, underlies rheumatic heart disease. Pericarditis would involve the lining around the heart, not the chronic valvular damage seen in rheumatic heart disease; an infectious infection of the myocardium is a different process; and congenital abnormalities are present from birth rather than arising from a post‑streptococcal autoimmune event.