[Endocarditis caused by Coxiella burnetii in aortic prosthesis. Presentation of a case with a fatal course].
A case of endocarditis caused by Coxiella burnetii in a patient with an aortic Starr-Edwards prosthesis is described. The diagnosis was made by detecting high titres of antibody against Coxiella burnetii phase I antigens. After 15 weeks of chemotherapy with tetracycline and cotrimoxazole, aortic prosthetic valve replacement was carried out because of haemodynamic deterioration and he died 4 days later. The histologic picture of the excised valve was consistent with endocarditis. Coxiella burnetii should be considered in the differential diagnosis of culture-negative endocarditis in our country, especially when the patient has not receiving antibiotic treatment in the last 2 weeks.
Martínez Sande
J L
JL
Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General de Asturias, Oviedo.
Casariego Rosón
J R
JR
Cimadevilla Suárez
R
R
Moreno Torrico
A
A
Alonso Orcajo
N
N
Rodríguez Llorián
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications*
Endocarditis por Coxiella burnetii sobre prótesis aórtica. Presentación de un caso de evolución fatal.