RHEUMATIC FEVER AND RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE1

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Abstract
Nineteen rheumatic families and 17 non-rheumatic families were studied. The results argue against any peculiar susceptility to streptococcal infections of rheumatic as opposed to non-rheumatic individuals. There was an indication that streptococcal infections were more a function of age, diminishing in the older age groups, rather than whether an individual was rheumatic or non-rheumatic. Rheumatic individuals in general had lower carrier rates than non-rheumatic individuals in rheumatic families or control subjects. The frequency of streptococcal infections was not different among the 3 diagnostic groups. Significant rises of antistreptolysin O and antihyaluronidase titers indicative of a recent streptococcal infection were not significantly different for the 3 diagnostic groups. There was no evidence that rheumatic individuals as a group react any differently to streptococcal infections either in regard to frequency or severity of infection than non-rheumatics. These studies confirm the high familial prevalence of rheumatic fever. The possible role of genetic factors in susceptibility to rheumatic fever was considered but could not be proved.