Isolated Rheumatic Pulmonary Valve Disease—Case Reports

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children and young adults worldwide and particularly developing countries continuing to experience a high incidence of this disease. The unexpected increase in the incidence of the disease in certain areas may explain the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of this disease. The key manifestation of RHD is the cardiac valvular abnormalities characterized principally by deforming the layered and avascular leaflet architecture due to inflammation and subsequent diffuse fibrosis. Mitral valve is mostly involved and pulmonary valve is rarely affected. Background of these case reports highlighted the increased incidence of rheumatic pulmonary valve disease in Thoothukudi region of India in Tamil Nadu state.