title: Disappearing left atrial vegetation in an intravenous drug abuser.
abstract: Isolated left atrial mural endocarditis is rare. We report a case where the diagnosis was made clinically and supported by blood cultures and transoesophageal echocardiography. Appropriate intravenous antibiotics were administered and serial transoesophageal echocardiograms helped in monitoring the decrease in size and final disappearance of the vegetation, thus avoiding the need for surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brigden
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Handler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*