Rheumatic Heart Disease

Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are preventable illnesses.

Why is it a problem in New Zealand?

Despite many Western nations eliminating rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, we have unacceptably high rates of these illnesses in New Zealand. Pasifika children are about 40 times more likely to be hospitalised for rheumatic fever and Maori children are about 20 times more likely than non-Maori / non Pacific children.

Compared to children of European or Other ethnic groups, Pasifika children are 115 times more likely and tamariki Māori are 46 times more likely to be hospitalised for ARF.

What are we doing to help?

In November 2020, Cure Kids committed more than $3 million over 3 years in an effort to prevent and treat, and ultimately, stomp out rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Better diagnosis
Dr Nikki Moreland is using advanced laboratory methods to identify specific biomarkers for rheumatic fever, which will enable faster and more accurate diagnosis and care. 

Improving services for Māori & Pasifika 

Dr Anneka Anderson is piloting a patient-centred model of care to improve services for rangatahi Māori and Pasifika, by developing more appropriate ways to deliver monthly injections to prevent development of RHD.

Vaccine design
Dr Jacelyn Loh’s laboratory is designing a vaccine that will have broad coverage of Group A Strep, and will be tested in clinical trials for safety and efficacy against the disease.

New drug pathway
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu is working on a novel drug development pathway, in search of different chemical forms of penicillin that might yield new options for preventing RHD.

Repurposing antibiotics
Dr Julie Bennett is collaborating with researchers in Australia to trial a high-dose longer lasting subcutaneous infusion (like a slow liquid injection) to improve the only currently available method to prevent RHD monthly penicillin injections.

Anti-inflammatory medication 

Associate Professor Nigel Wilson is studying the safety and efficacy of a well-known anti-inflammatory medication, hydroxychloroquine, for preventing damage to heart valves and therefore avoiding RHD.