Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- 1 Basic Components of the Immune System
- 2 Immunological Techniques
- 3 Immune Regulation
- 4 Immunological Aspects of Infection
- 5 Immunological Aspects of Immunodeficiency Diseases
- 6 Autoimmunity
- 7 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- 8 Immunology of HIV Infections
- 9 Immunological Aspects of Allergy and Anaphylaxis
- 10 Immunological Aspects of Skin Diseases
- 11 Experimental Approaches to the Study of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
- 12 Immunological Aspects of Cardiac Disease
- 13 Immunological Aspects of Chest Diseases: The Case of Tuberculosis
- 14 Immunological Aspects of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease
- 15 Immunological Aspects of Endocrine Disease
- 16 Immune-Mediated Neurological Syndromes
- 17 Immunological Aspects of Renal Disease
- 18 Immunological Aspects of Transplantation
- Index
12 - Immunological Aspects of Cardiac Disease
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- 1 Basic Components of the Immune System
- 2 Immunological Techniques
- 3 Immune Regulation
- 4 Immunological Aspects of Infection
- 5 Immunological Aspects of Immunodeficiency Diseases
- 6 Autoimmunity
- 7 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- 8 Immunology of HIV Infections
- 9 Immunological Aspects of Allergy and Anaphylaxis
- 10 Immunological Aspects of Skin Diseases
- 11 Experimental Approaches to the Study of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
- 12 Immunological Aspects of Cardiac Disease
- 13 Immunological Aspects of Chest Diseases: The Case of Tuberculosis
- 14 Immunological Aspects of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease
- 15 Immunological Aspects of Endocrine Disease
- 16 Immune-Mediated Neurological Syndromes
- 17 Immunological Aspects of Renal Disease
- 18 Immunological Aspects of Transplantation
- Index
Summary
INTRODUCTION
Although the vast majority of cardiac diseases relate to the presence of atherosclerosis in the vessels supplying blood and oxygen to the heart, there are certain conditions in which immunological events play an important role. This chapter will concentrate on the immunological aspects of these diseases. We will also discuss the animal models associated with each of these disorders with particular emphasis on whether these models help us to understand further the immunological aspects of these conditions.
RHEUMATIC FEVER
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a delayed, nonsuppurative sequela of a pharyngeal infection with the group A streptococcus. A latent period of two to three weeks follows the initial streptococcal pharyngitis. The latent period remains the same for each individual patient in the event of a recurrence. This suggests that the patient has already been exposed to more than one streptococcal infection in the past. The onset of disease is usually characterized by an acute febrile illness, which may manifest itself in one of three classical ways: (1) The patient may present with migratory arthritis predominantly involving the large joints of the body. (2) There may also be concomitant clinical and laboratory signs of carditis and valvulitis, or carditis and valvulitis may be the only signs of an acute episode. (3) There may be involvement of the central nervous system, manifesting itself as Sydenham's chorea. The clinical episodes are self-limiting but damage to the valves may be chronic and progressive, resulting in cardiac decompensation and death.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Essential Clinical Immunology , pp. 199 - 230Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009