RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Current medical management of valvular heart disease
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 881
OP 887
VO 68
IS 10
A2 Brian P. Griffin
A1 Emil Hayek
YR 2001
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/68/10/881.abstract
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.