The Relative Frequency of Rheumatic Valve Defects in North Dakota

¹ Cardiologist, Quain and Ramstad Clinic
² U. S. Public Health Service, Public Health Advisor, Heart Disease Control Office of North Dakota

Retrospective study of the chronic rheumatic valvular cases at this clinic for a 25-year-period shows that the relative frequency of aortic and mitral valve involvement is similar to the traditional. Both the order of the involvement and the pressures sustained by the valves are approximately two to one ratio for mitral and aortic valves respectively. While aortic valve involvement is not as frequent, it is an onerous diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Careful scrutiny of chronic rheumatic valvular heart patients is necessary and indicated to recognize the right heart valve defects.