Application of the Antistreptolysin-O Titer in the Evaluation of Joint Pain and in the Diagnosis of Rheumatic Fever

Abstract

A RECENT review of the literature¹ and our own experience at the House of the Good Samaritan^{2 3 4 5} suggest that early treatment of rheumatic fever with ACTH and cortisone may prevent or mitigate heart damage. Early treatment is dependent on early diagnosis of the disease. Clinically, rheumatic fever is diagnosed by such manifestations as subcutaneous nodules, chorea, erythema marginatum, carditis and arthritis. Subcutaneous nodules are a late manifestation, and chorea and erythema marginatum occur sometimes early but also frequently late in the course of the disease. When definite carditis (significant murmurs or congestive heart failure) has been established, some irreversible damage . . .