Which question is most relevant to assess risk for mitral valve stenosis?

Which question is most relevant to assess risk for mitral valve stenosis?

• A. Do you frequently get urinary tract infections?
• B. Have you had a recent episode of pneumonia?
• C. Did you ever have strep throat during childhood?
• D. Do you have a family history of heart attack or angina?

Answer: (C)

Mitral stenosis is most often a consequence of rheumatic fever following a streptococcal throat infection. The immune response to that infection can scar the mitral valve over time, narrowing the orifice. Because of this causal pathway, asking about a history of strep throat during childhood directly probes a major risk factor for developing mitral stenosis. The other questions don’t connect to the valve’s pathology: urinary tract infections and pneumonia are unrelated to mitral valve structure, and a family history of heart attack or angina relates to coronary disease risk rather than rheumatic valve disease.

Mitral stenosis is most often a consequence of rheumatic fever following a streptococcal throat infection. The immune response to that infection can scar the mitral valve over time, narrowing the orifice. Because of this causal pathway, asking about a history of strep throat during childhood directly probes a major risk factor for developing mitral stenosis. The other questions don’t connect to the valve’s pathology: urinary tract infections and pneumonia are unrelated to mitral valve structure, and a family history of heart attack or angina relates to coronary disease risk rather than rheumatic valve disease.