ABSTRACT

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a multisystem disease that effect joints, heart, brain, skin and subcutaneus tissues. In developing countries and in our country it is still an important health problem. Although according to the recently remodified Jones criteria echocardiography has limited role in diagnosis, especially in differential diagnosis, prognosis and long term following. It has been used more commonly nowadays. In many forms of ARF colored doppler echocardiography has increasing importance in detecting silent valvuler insufficiencies. In this article clinical and laboratory findings of ARF and new developments in diagnosis and treatment of disease overviewed in the light of literature.