The possible diagnostic value of an enlarged left atrial appendage (LAA) on the posterior-anterior or right anterior oblique chest film as a means of implicating a rheumatic etiology for mitral valve disease in children was investigated. Chest films were examined without prior knowledge of clinical or laboratory data, and the results were later correlated with this information in 113 children a...

To cite: Steger CM. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2015211943 DESCRIPTION A 65-year-old man with a medical history of rheumatic fever in childhood reported thoracic pain while at work and collapsed. He died in the ambulance on the way to hospital due to ventricular fibrillation. After the few episodes of rheumatic fever with subsequent pancarditis...

Perspectives Rheumatic heart disease comprises a small proportion of the total global disease burden according to current estimates. A rare complication of a strepto-coccal throat infection, rheumatic heart disease causes heart valve damage and progressive heart failure. The cause and course of this disease can be difficult to explain to policy-makers and to people at risk. The relative burden ...