RHEUMATIC BRAIN DISEASE

Abstract

In recent years attention has been directed to the occurrence of rheumatic obliterating arteritis in the brain of persons with rheumatic heart disease.¹ This late cerebral sequel of rheumatic fever involves mainly the small meningeal and cortical vessels, producing gross or microscopic softenings in the cortex. Less frequently, larger vessels are affected. The involvement of the brain may occur from several months to many years after the acute stage of rheumatic fever, at a time when the person is otherwise enjoying good physical health. To this hitherto unrecognized cerebral process the term rheumatic brain disease was given. Similar cases have since been described in this country² and abroad.³ Although the frequency with which widespread and clinically manifest arteritis takes place in the brain of persons with rheumatic cardiovalvular disease is not yet known, its occurrence is by no means rare. It has been estimated from necropsy experience