THE OCCURRENCE OF LEUCOCYTE-PLATELET THROMBOSIS IN RHEUMATIC CARDITIS

Leucocyte-platelet thrombi, involving the smaller branches of the coronary blood vessels, have been found in the hearts of patients with active rheumatic fever and rheumatic carditis. A consistent correlation has been observed between the existence of these vascular lesions and the presence of typical Aschoff bodies. It is suggested that these cellular thrombi may play a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic carditis.