The Histopathology of the Tonsil in Acute Rheumatic Fever and Chorea

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Tonsils removed from a series of cases of acute rheumatic fever and chorea were examined microscopically, paying especial attention to the capsu-lar and pericapsular tissues. In 18 cases of rheumatic fever and 5 of chorea a study of these tissues showed, in 14 of the former and 4 of the latter perivascular lesions consisting of lymphoic and plasma cells (78%). In addition, such findings as atrophic muscle giant cells, fibrosis, bone and cartilage, and foreign-body giant cells in the stroma of the mucous glands were encountered. An endothelial proliferative reaction of the lining cells of the capillaries and perivascular lymph spaces was noted in 11 cases (48%). Some of the endothelial cells were multinucleated and were associated with granulomatous-like lesions in 6 instances (26%). The endothelial cell response was the outstanding feature of the study. The authors are not prepared to state that it is a specific reaction for rheumatic fever or chorea. In general, a comparison of the clinical data with the pathological findings revealed that the more severely acute, and the more prolonged recurrent cases exhibited the most distinctive lesions.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: