title: [Infectious endocarditis caused by Q fever. Apropos of a clinical case].
abstract: Endocarditis is a rare, but some times fatal, complication of Q fever. Its diagnosis is difficult and it is based on non-specific cardiac findings and a high title of phase I antibodies. The treatment is based on tetracyclines alone or in combination with cotrimoxazole, for long periods of time. The therapeutic efficacy is evaluated by the measurement of phase I antibodies, every three months. The relapses are frequent despite the long period of antibiotic therapy. We report what is probably the first case of Q fever prosthesis endocarditis in Portugal, as a complication following an acute episode of Q fever.
authors.affiliation: Serviçe de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Cruz, Carnaxide, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paixão
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trabulo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seabra-Gomes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial