Ten years of infective endocarditis: a clinicopathologic study.
The records of 46 patients with infective endocarditis diagnosed either clinically or post-mortem were analyzed. Twenty-six patients were over 60 years of age. S. aureus was the predominant organism, almost exclusively found in patients with acute endocarditis. Thirty-six patients had pre-existing heart disease, the most common being non-rheumatic valvular calcification and congenital defects. Two thirds of the patients, especially those with aortic valve regurgitation, developed new or progressive heart failure. A correct clinical diagnosis was established in only 30 patients. Twenty-three patients died, the mortality being 71% in acute and 32% in subacute disease. Only one of eight patients with prosthetic valve infection died. Four patients required urgent valve replacement. Early surgical intervention should be considered in patients with uncontrolled heart failure.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification