What is the second most commonly affected valve in rheumatic fever?

In rheumatic fever, the heart valves can be affected due to an autoimmune response following a streptococcal infection. The mitral valve is the most commonly involved valve in rheumatic heart disease, often presenting with mitral regurgitation or stenosis. This is attributed to the valve's anatomy and its exposure to the hemodynamic stresses of the left atrium and ventricle.

The aortic valve is recognized as the second most commonly affected valve in this condition. In cases of rheumatic fever, it may be involved either concurrently with the mitral valve or independently. The damage to the aortic valve can lead to aortic regurgitation or stenosis, similar to the mitral valve, and is also consistent with the pattern of valvular involvement seen in rheumatic heart disease.

The tricuspid and pulmonic valves are less commonly impacted in rheumatic fever. They are generally not considered significant in terms of morbidity and mortality associated with rheumatic heart disease, as most pericardial or valve-related issues arise in the left heart structures.

To summarize, the aortic valve ranks as the second most affected by this autoimmune disorder, primarily following the mitral valve, based on the frequency of involvement and the typical