A 16-year-old girl comes to the hospital with chest pain and respiratory distress. On physical examination, the patient is sho of breath, wheezing and gasping for air. A prominent pansystolic hea murmur and a prominent third hea sound are heard on cardiac auscultation. An X-ray study of the chest shows marked enlargement of the hea. The patient expires despite intense suppoive measures. At autopsy, microscopic examination of the myocardium discloses aggregates of mononuclear cells arranged around centrally located deposits of eosinophilic collagen. What is the appropriate diagnosis?
A 16-year-old girl comes to the hospital with chest pain and respiratory distress. On physical examination, the patient is sho of breath, wheezing and gasping for air. A prominent pansystolic hea murmur and a prominent third hea sound are heard on cardiac auscultation. An X-ray study of the chest shows marked enlargement of the hea. The patient expires despite intense suppoive measures. At autopsy, microscopic examination of the myocardium discloses aggregates of mononuclear cells arranged around centrally located deposits of eosinophilic collagen. What is the appropriate diagnosis?
π‘ Explanation
**Core Concept**
The patient's presentation, including chest pain, respiratory distress, pansystolic heart murmur, and third heart sound, suggests a condition affecting the heart's structure and function. The microscopic examination of the myocardium reveals aggregates of mononuclear cells and eosinophilic collagen, indicating a specific type of cardiac pathology.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The patient's symptoms and autopsy findings are consistent with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a complication of acute rheumatic fever (ARF). ARF is triggered by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infection, which leads to an autoimmune response against the heart valves and myocardium. The deposition of eosinophilic collagen, known as Aschoff bodies, is a hallmark of RHD. The condition can cause valvular damage, leading to heart failure and potentially fatal outcomes.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is likely "Cardiomyopathy", which can present with similar symptoms but lacks the characteristic Aschoff bodies and eosinophilic collagen deposits found in RHD.
**Option B:** "Endocarditis" is an infection of the heart valves, which may present with similar symptoms but is typically associated with fever, embolic events, and positive blood cultures.
**Option C:** "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy" is a genetic condition characterized by thickened heart muscle, which may present with chest pain and shortness of breath but lacks the specific microscopic findings of RHD.
**Option D:** "Coronary Artery Disease" is a condition affecting the blood vessels supplying the heart, which may present with chest pain but is not associated with the characteristic microscopic findings of RHD.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Rheumatic heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, particularly in regions with limited access to healthcare and high rates of streptococcal infections.
**Correct Answer:** D.
β Correct Answer: B. Rheumatic hea disease
π€ Share this MCQ
Share Card Preview
π 1080x1080 square card β fills the full width in WhatsApp and Telegram