UKMLA PLAB AMC USMLE Prometric MCQ

Question Number 0819

Question:
A 56 year old farmer has a history of rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease occurs in individuals who have had prior pharyngitis. This is best explained by the fact that rheumatic fever is due to:

a) secondary to the fever associated with pharyngitis
b) spread of the bacterial infection to the cardiac muscle
c) spread of the viral infection to the cardiac muscle
d) an autoimmune reaction caused by staphylococcal antigens
e) an autoimmune reaction caused by streptococcal antigens