What type of cardiac nodules are associated with rheumatic fever?

Aschoff bodies are the type of cardiac nodules associated with rheumatic fever. These are specific granulomatous lesions found in the heart tissue of patients who have experienced rheumatic fever, which is a complication of untreated streptococcal throat infections. The presence of Aschoff bodies indicates inflammation and damage to the myocardium and the endocardium, and they are characterized by the presence of an area of necrosis surrounded by activated macrophages (often referred to as Aschoff giant cells), lymphocytes, and plasma cells.

The pathogenesis of rheumatic fever involves an autoimmune reaction, whereby the body's immune response to streptococcal antigens mistakenly targets the heart tissues, leading to this pathological finding. The Aschoff bodies can be found in various parts of the heart, including the endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium, and they contribute to the mitral and aortic valve deformities commonly seen in rheumatic heart disease.

The other options presented do not relate to rheumatic fever: heterophile antibodies are associated with infectious mononucleosis, Schiller-Duval bodies are found in yolk sac tumors, and Charcot-Leyden crystals are associated with eosinophilic disorders