Mitral valve replacement in active rheumatic heart disease in a five years old child.

A case of a five-year-old patient with severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation is reported. Intensive anticongestive and corticosteroid therapy were ineffective. Despite the diagnosis of chronic carditis she underwent successful mitral valve replacement with significant improvement of her cardiac status. Valve replacement is indicated in a certain group of patients with rheumatic heart disease which have a poor prognosis on medical therapy alone.