This study was done to estimate the levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein ( (hs CRP) in patients with chronic quiescent rheumatic valvular disease as a marker for ongoing inflammatory process .It included 30 patients with chronic valvular rheumatic heart disease (CVRD ) .They were 11 males and 19 females ,their ages ranged from 6-17 years they were taken as (group 1).Which further subdivided into group 1a included 7 patients with prosthetic valve and group 1b included 23 patients without prosthetic valve .Also 20 healthy children of age and sex matched to group 1 taken as control group (group 2 ) .All patients subjected to full medical history taken ,full clinical diagnosis , X-ray ,ECG and echocardiography to establish the diagnosis of (CVRD ) ,hs CRP was done to all children .The mean level of hs CRP was 3.3 ± 1.4mg/l in group 1and was 1.79 ± 1.88 mg/l in group 2 and there was highly statistical significant difference between both groups .In our study the mean level of hs CRP in patients with prosthetic valves was 2.33 ±0.42 mg/l and was 3.59 ±1.5 mg/l in those without prosthetic valve and there was highly statistical significant difference between both groups .there was statistical significant positive correlation between hs CRP and duration of the disease ,number of valves affected and number of recurrences of rheumatic fever .
In conclusion : hs CRP is a sensitive marker of low grade inflammation and increased in chronic rheumatic heart disease . This may indicate that inflammatory process still persistent in chronic phase of rheumatic fever and this may be responsible for the progression of valvular lesions .
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