Chancellor of the University of Indonesia, Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., inaugurated Prof. Dr. dr. Amiliana Mardiani Soesanto, Sp.JP(K) as Professor in the Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases, Faculty of Medicine UI, on Saturday (17/2), in IMERI Hall. Prof. Amiliana was inaugurated as a professor after delivering a scientific oration entitled “The Double Burden of Valvular Heart Disease in Indonesia: Challenges and Strategies for the Future”.
In her speech, Prof. Amiliana said that heart disease, in this case, valvular heart disease, has not get enough attention. Valvular heart disease is a disruption in the function of one or more heart valves, such as leakage or narrowing, or a combination of both. The most common clinical symptom of this condition is heart failure, which ends in disability, decreased quality of life, and premature death.
As a national referral center, more than 40 percent of valvular heart cases at Heart and Blood Vessel Harapan Kita Hospital are caused by Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), and almost 30 percent are due to degenerative processes in older patients. Meanwhile, RHD, which is a residual symptom of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) in childhood, will have an impact on young adults, especially women. This causes a reduction in healthy, productive individuals and the emergence of maternal problems.
These two types of valvular heart disease in two different age groups cause a double burden on society and the country. Valve repair or replacement using surgical or non-surgical interventions causes the costs paid by the government to be very high. In elderly patients, the procedure and the clinical benefits must be considered due to the high risks of surgery.
International guidelines recommend transcatheter intervention as a surgery alternative to treat some valve disorders. Transcatheter intervention is a non-surgical procedure without opening the chest wall and heart. Despite its benefits for patients, transcatheter interventions are very expensive.
Meanwhile, RHD is a valvular heart disease that begins with a throat infection by Streptococcus beta hemolyticus, which causes an inflammatory and autoimmune reaction. According to Prof. Amiliana, only 1-3 percent of cases will become ARF. This disease can be prevented, but if the patients do not receive adequate treatment or prevention, RHD can occur.
To prevent RHD, screening for cases that are not yet symptomatic is necessary. “In the end, a strategy is needed that involves society, the health community, technology, medical science, and the government to answer the challenges of valve disease in Indonesia. Especially when dealing with RHD, society and the health community need to take promotive, preventive, and early detection actions,” said Prof. Amilia.
Technology and medical science are required to develop the role of genetics in the emergence of ARF and RHD and develop vaccines, rapid serological tests, and types of prophylactic antibiotics. In addition, medical technology is required to establish medical management and interventions, for example, in manufacturing affordable artificial valves. The government also plays a role in creating RHD control program policies to ensure the availability of antibiotic regimens for secondary prevention of RHD and easy access to valve disorder services.
Before conducting a study on valvular heart disease, Prof. Amiliana has done a lot of research. His latest scientific publication is Clinical Outcome of Rheumatic Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement Surgery in Indonesia and A Comparison with Non-Rheumatic Aetiology (2024). Prof. Amiliana has been the principal researcher of INA-RHD, National Registry of Rheumatic Heart Disease since 2022. In 2020, she received the Research and Technology-BRIN Award in the Category of High-Quality Scientific Articles in Health and Medicine and the 2022 PUTI GRANT.
Prof. Amiliana completed her Bachelor’s Degree in General Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine UI in 1991, Heart and Blood Vessel Specialist Education at the Faculty of Medicine UI in 2000, Consultant Education (Echocardiography) at the College of Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases in 2009, and acquired a Doctor of Medicine degree at Faculty of Medicine UI in 2012. She is the Chair of the Medical Committee at Harapan Kita Hospital and part of the Development, Ethics, and Legal Team of the Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine UI.
The inauguration of Prof. Amiliana was also attended by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2004–2009 period, Dr. dr. Siti Fadilah Supari, SpJP(K); Main Director of Harapan Kita Hospital, Dr. dr. Iwan Dakota, Sp.JP(K), MARS; President of the Indonesian Health Services Engineering Association, Prof. Ir. Dr.-Ing. Eko Supriyanto; Deputy Executive Director and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the DIPI non-APBN Research Endowment Fund, Dr. Teguh Raharjo; President Director of Mandaya Hospital Group, dr. Benedict Reinaldo Widaja, MBChB; Professor of Faculty of Medicine University of Syiah Kuala, Prof. Dr. dr. H. Kurnia Fitri Jamil, M. Kes., Sp. PD., KPTI., FINASIM; Professor of Faculty of Medicine Padjadjaran University, Prof. Dr. dr. Januar Wibawa Martha, Sp.PD., MPH., Sp.JP(K); and Professor of Faculty of Medicine Gadjah Mada University, Prof. Dr. dr. Lucia Kris Dinarti, Sp.PD, Sp.JP(K) and Prof. dr. Adi Utarini MSc., MPH., PhD.
