Acute rheumatic fever prophylaxis in high-income countries: clinical observations from an Italian multicentre, retrospective study.

Objective-The aim of the study is to evaluate the compliance rate to secondary prophylaxis and the presence of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) in a cohort of Italian patients with Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF). Methods-This is a multicentre retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence at last follow-up of RHD. Clinical features, ARF recurrences and the rate of compliance to secondary prophylaxis were evaluated. Results-wo hundred and ninety patients were enrolled (137 females, 153 males). Carditis at onset was present in 244 patients (84.7%). At the end of follow-up, 173 patients showed RHD. Adherence to secondary prophylaxis was low in 26% of …