THE ROLE OF IMMUNO-BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN THE ACTIVE STAGE OF CHRONIC RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE IN CHILDREN

Chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD) remains one of the most important acquired cardiovascular diseases in children and adolescents. The disease develops due to autoimmune inflammatory reactions after group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection and is characterized by progressive valvular damage, myocardial inflammation, and chronic cardiac insufficiency. The present study investigated serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) in children with CRHD. Elevated TNF-α, CRP, and PCT together with reduced IL-10 were observed during active inflammatory stages. These biomarkers demonstrated high diagnostic and prognostic significance.