ABSTRACT
Over 99% of cases of mitral stenosis follow rheumatic fever, but approximately onethird of cases give no history of rheumatic fever or chorea, the acute illness being mild and escaping notice. The disease is four times more common in women than in men and the latent period from infection to presentation may be 20 years. A tiny percentage of cases are congenital, the valve being replaced by a rudimentary perforated diaphragm.
