rheumatic heart disease each year Seckeler MD, Hoke TR The worldwide epidemiology of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease Clin Epidemiol 2011;3:67–84 This article describes the worldwide burden of rheumatic fever The burden of rheumatic fever has been depicted on a world map that clearly shows continuing high numbers in developing countries Guidelines for the diagnosis of rheumatic fever Jones criteria, 1992 update Special writing group of the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young of the American Heart Association JAMA 1992;268:2069–2073 The diagnostic criteria initially formulated by Jones have been revised over the past years by the American Heart Association This last review of the guidelines is intended for diagnosis of primary episodes Nonetheless, when other diseases are excluded, three situations— Sydenham chorea, indolent carditis, and recurrent episodes—are emphasized as exceptions to the need for strict adherence to the criteria Gewitz MH, Baltimore RS, Tani LY, et al Revision of the jones criteria for the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever in the era of Doppler echocardiography: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association endorsed by the world heart federation [On behalf of the; American Heart Association Committee (on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young)] Circulation 2015;131:1806–1818 This is a landmark article on revision of the Jones criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatic fever A substantial change from the previous criteria has been to include echocardiography and Doppler for diagnosis of carditis Subclinical carditis has been included as a major criteria for the first time Also the criteria are different for low-risk populations and moderate- to high-risk populations Steer AC, Law I, Matatolu L, Beall BW, Carapetis JR Global emm type distribution of group a streptococci: systematic review and implications for vaccine development Lancet Infect Dis 2009;9:611–616 This article summarizes the current status of vaccines for preventing rheumatic fever There are a number of promising vaccine candidates, most notably those based on the M protein, the key virulence factor for the bacterium However, several barriers exist for a successful vaccine that need to be overcome Markowitz M Rheumatic fever—a half-century perspective Pediatrics 1998;102(suppl):272– 274 From a historical perspective, and based on the experience gathered during the past 50 years, the reasons are discussed for the cyclic changes in the incidence of rheumatic fever, as well as the limitations still existing in eradicating the disease Cunningham MW Pathogenesis of group A streptococcal infections Clin Microbiol Rev 2000;13:470–511 The author provides an extensive review of the structural and antigenic features of group A Streptococcus, discussing the mechanisms of disease, including molecular mimicry with host tissues, which may lead to rheumatic fever and immune-mediated glomerulonephritis Strategies for production of vaccines are also discussed Guilherme L, Fae K, Oshiro SE, Kalil J Molecular pathogenesis of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease Expert Rev Mol Med 2005;7:1– ... several barriers exist for a successful vaccine that need to be overcome Markowitz M Rheumatic fever—a half-century perspective Pediatrics 1998;102(suppl):272– 274 From a historical perspective, and based on the experience gathered during the past 50 years,