The authors describe various clinical forms of streptococcal infections, the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these conditions, and peculiarities of their clinical picture. Also considered are the modern methods employed for laboratory diagnostics of streptococcal infections. The probability of the risk of development of post-streptococcal diseases in the children is evaluated. Measures for the prevention of these conditions are proposed.

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the objective diagnostic criteria for the differentiation between various forms of chronic tonsillitis (CT) based on the results of clinical, bacteriological, and serological investigations. A total of 13 patients presenting with various forms of CT were available for the examination. The mathematical analysis of the data thus obtained made it possible to identify the most clinically significant diagnostic criteria allowing to verify the form of CT. It is concluded that their application in the combination with the classification of chronic tonsillitis proposed earlier by B.S. Preobrazhensky and V.T. Pal'chun can be recommended for the choice of the most adequate strategy for the treatment of the patients chronic tonsillitis on an individual basis.

The objective of the present study was to analyse risk factors and the clinical course of general diseases and disorders associated with chronic tonsillitis. We overviewed domestic and foreign periodicals and present the data thus obtained together with the results of our original investigations. The study permitted to elucidate the risk factors of the complicated clinical picture of chronic tonsillar pathology and substantiate the necessity of the active surgical treatment for the prevention of the development of toxico-allergic forms of this disease. The importance of thorough diagnostics of the diseases concomitant with chronic tonsillitis both for the purpose of identification of its form and for the prevention of the development of serious life-threatening complications is emphasized.

The objective of the present study was to characterize peculiar clinical and laboratory features of trivial tonsillitis for the substantiation of the necessity of prescription of antibacterial therapy. A total of 386 patients presenting with various forms of trivial tonsillitis were available for the determination of anti-streptococcal antibody (ASLO, anti-DN-ase B, ASPH) levels. The results of the measurement were compared based on the Centor scale generally used to estimate the necessity of prescribing antibacterial therapy for the treatment of sore throat. It is concluded that laboratory studies of characteristics of S. Рyogenes activity are needed in all the patients presenting with tonsillitis in order to elucidate the etiological factors responsible for pharyngalgia and the necessity of prescription of antibacterial therapy for the prevention of pyogenic systemic complications of streptococcal infection.

Pulmonary hypertension is a complex multidisciplinary problem in modern medicine. This review discusses its clinical and pathophysiological type associated with rheumatic heart disease. Current approaches to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease are reflected; basic approaches to its treatment are discussed in terms of current clinical guidelines and new scientific achievements.

The objective of the present study was to analyse etiological and pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the development of toxico-allergic manifestations in the patients presenting with chronic tonsillitis. The overview of the publications in the Russian and foreign literature provided materials for substantiating the expediency of the treatment of various forms of chronic tonsillitis on an individual basis. The necessity of further studies of toxico-allergic manifestations of chronic tonsillitis and the use of the active surgical strategies for the management of toxico-allergic forms of the disease is emphasized.

AIM To specify the course and outcomes of arthritides associated with streptococcal infection (AASI). MATERIAL AND METHODS The trial comprised 60 patients with arthritis (mean age 26.8 +/- 14.0). The patients met the following criteria: arthritis, elevated (< 500 U) titers of antistreptolisin-0 in the absence of heart disorders detected at Doppler-echocardiography (2D-echoCG), urogenital infection, Yersinia infection, psoriasis. In addition to routine clinical tests, the following investigations were made: tests for alloantigen of B-lymphocytes D8/17 and antigen HLA-B27, antibodies to polysaccharide of streptococcus of group A, bacteriological test of laryngeal smears for streptococcal infection, prospective follow-up (mean 31.2 +/- 19.6 mon) with 2D-echoCG. RESULTS Rheumatic arthritis was rejected in 33.3% patients. Other diseases were diagnosed: early rheumatoid arthritis (10%), seronegative spondylarthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Still's disease, Konig's disease, sarcoidosis, gout, arthritis on the background of streptococcal nodular erythema. Acute rheumatoid fever (ARF) was diagnosed in 56.7% patients, poststreptococcal arthritis (PSA) in 10%. PSA differed from ARF by onset at the age of 36.0 +/- 10.2 years, short latent period (11.2 +/- 1.3 days), a significantly longer course of arthritis (95.0 +/- 3.9 days), recurrences. Alloantigen of B-lymphocytes was detected in 52.8% AASI patients (the difference from the control is highly significant (p < 0.001). Arthritis development was not associated with carriage of HLA-B27 carriage. CONCLUSION In examination of AASI patients for diagnosis of ARV and PSA it is necessary to reject other diseases among which early RA (10%) is most frequent. It is recommended to make diagnosis of ARF in AASI patients with definition of risk factors (age 7-15 years, family history of rheumatic fever, carriage of alloantigen d8/17), 2.5-year and longer follow-up with 2D-echoCG. Diagnosis of PSA is made in rejection of ARF and in the presence of the following characteristics: development of the disease at the age 30-40 years, a short latent period of the infection, long-term persistent course of arthritis, insufficient effect of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, frequent affection of sacroiliac joints, recurrence, entezopathy.