ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case report of an 18-year-old man who is described in whom rheumatic heart disease, as evidenced by the presence of classic Aschoff bodies, occurred in combination with a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the presence of rheumatic heart disease and congenitally bicuspid aortic valve in the same patient. Almost surely in years past there has been an “over-diagnosis” of Aschoff bodies at necropsy, using loose criteria which may include nonspecific inflammatory lesions of the heart. Patient had a classic congenitally bicuspid aortic valve and numerous classic Aschoff bodies in the heart at necropsy. Histologic examination disclosed multiple typical Aschoff bodies in the endocardium of both atria and in the endocardium and interstitium of both ventricles.
