[Infectious endocarditis caused by Q fever. Apropos of a clinical case].
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.
Almeida
M
M
Serviçe de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Cruz, Carnaxide, Portugal.
Paixão
P
P
Ferreira
J
J
Trabulo
M
M
Gil
V
V
Marques
T
T
Silva
A
A
Seabra-Gomes
R
R
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
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial