Thus, the high blood concentrations of MBL could be considered as a double-edged sword molecule in the physiopathology of RF and rheumatic carditis, on one hand conferring protection against the initial infection by rheumatogenic Streptococci which is good, but on the other hand eliciting inflammation and complement dependent tissue damage in the chronic stage of the disease [10]. This evidence concerns the gene MBL2 and rheumatic heart disease.