ACUTE RHEUMATIC-FEVER IN THE ADULT - 4 CA SES IN GUADELOUPE

Objective: Rheumatic fever has become infrequent in developed countrie s, Recent regional epidemics, particularly in North America, brought o ur attention to this disease in our area, In the French Caribbean Isla nds, rheumatic fever remains an important health problem despite much progress in the last 15 years, Methods: A retrospective survey over th e last 5 years identified 19 cases of rheumatic fever in Guadeloupe in subjects over 19 years of age, Results: Among these subjects 4 cases of rheumatic fever beginning in adulthood were analysed and compared w ith data in the literature, Conclusion: The diagnosis of rheumatic fev er beginning in adulthood is difficult to establish, Joint symptoms ar e variable and cardiac involvement, which occurs in 30 to 40% of the c ases, is highly suggestive, The kinetics of antistreptococci antibodie s confirms the diagnosis.