Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is associated with systemic
inflammation and arterial stiffness during the acute stage. It
has not been reported if arterial stiffness remains after
recovery. The aim of this study was to determine the arterial
stiffness during acute stage and 6 months after recovery
from ARF. Arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid femoral
pulse wave velocity (PWV) in 23 ARF patients during the
acute stage of ARF and 6 months later. Simultaneously,
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and other
anthropometric measurements were taken during both
stages. There was a significant reduction in PWV; 6.5 (6.0,
7.45) m/s to 5.9 (5.38, 6.48) m/s, p=0.003 6 months after the
acute stage of ARF. Similarly, ESR was also significantly
reduced from 92.0 (37.5, 110.50) mm/hr to 7.0 (5.0, 16.0)
mm/hr, p=0.001. In conclusion, arterial stiffness improved 6
months after the acute stage with routine aspirin treatment;
this correlates well with the reduction in systemic
inflammation.
Rheumatic Fever
;
Vascular Stiffness