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News & Events

Visit from On Track Watch Community Researchers helps build a pathway of looking at two different cultures

For Aboriginal Community Researchers Minitja Marawili and Yunutju Gondarra, the work of the END RHD CRE is deeply personal.

News & Events

Laqueisha's story: living with RHD

Laqueisha was just five years old when she was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease and sent on a 5,000km return trip to Perth for major heart surgery.

Research

Treating trade: the case for clinical engagement with regional trade agreements

The global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to grow. Although developing settings face fastest growth in incidence, no country is exempt.

Research

The stark reality of rheumatic heart disease

This editorial refers to ‘Characteristics, complications, and gaps in evidence-based interventions in rheumatic heart disease: the Global Rheumatic Heart...

Research

The case for global investment in rheumatic heart-disease control

The review built a case for extending simple and cost–effective measures to all countries. Had these recommendations been put into action, significant...

Research

Group A streptococcal vaccines: Paving a path for accelerated development

Vaccine prevention of GAS infections and their immunological complications has been a goal of researchers for decades.

Research

Development of a sustained release implant of benzathine penicillin G for secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic heart disease

Regular intramuscular (i.m.) benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections have been the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis since the 1950s. Patient adherence to IM BPG is poor, largely due to pain, the need for regular injections every 3-4 weeks and health sector delivery challenges in resource-limited settings. There is an urgent need for new approaches for secondary prophylaxis, such as an implant which could provide sustained penicillin concentrations for more than 6 months.

Research

Outcomes of latent rheumatic heart disease: External validation of a simplified score in patients with and without secondary prophylaxis

Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis reduces progression of latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) but not all children benefit. Improved risk stratification could refine recommendations following positive screening. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a previously developed echocardiographic risk score to predict mid-term outcomes among children with latent RHD. 

Research

Left ventricular remodelling in rheumatic heart disease – trends over time and implications for follow-up in childhood

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common form of acquired heart disease worldwide. In RHD, volume loading from mitral regurgitation leads to left ventricular (LV) dilatation, increased wall stress, and ultimately LV dysfunction. Improved understanding of LV dynamics may contribute to refined timing of intervention.

Research

The evidence that rheumatic heart disease control programs in Australia are making an impact

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) comprises heart-valve damage caused by acute rheumatic fever (ARF). The Australian Government Rheumatic Fever Strategy funds RHD Control Programs to support detection and management of ARF and RHD. We assessed epidemiological changes during the years of RHD Control Program operation.