PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED  - Griffin, Brian P.
AU  - Emil Hayek
TI  - Current medical management of valvular heart disease
DP  - 2001 Oct 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 881--887
VI  - 68
IP  - 10
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/68/10/881.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/68/10/881.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2001 Oct 01; 68
AB  - Drug therapy plays a key role in the management of valvular heart disease, though in many cases it does not alter its course or delay the need for surgery. The importance of drug therapy lies in stabilizing the patient’s condition when the disease is due to abnormal valve structure, and in treating the underlying condition when the condition is due to a functional abnormality. Drug therapy also lowers the risk of bacterial endocarditis and rheumatic fever.