[Candida albicans endocarditis. A rare disease with serious complications].
METHODS
A 54-year-old farmer with moderate mitral valve regurgitation was admitted to hospital because of suspected infective endocarditis.


RESULTS
Echocardiography revealed a large mitral valve vegetation as the source of multifocal septic emboli to the central nervous system, spleen, mesenteric and femoro-popliteal arteries, eyes, and kidneys. Eventually an embolus removed from the femoro-popliteal artery and vegetations on the replaced mitral valve grew C. albicans.


METHODS
Despite treatment with amphotericin B and valve replacement the patient died of septicemia due to E. coli.


CONCLUSIONS
Endocarditis due to C. albicans is commonly associated with severe complications. Diagnosis of this rare disease is often delayed because of negative blood cultures. Large cardiac vegetations and embolization of major arterial vessels should raise the suspicion of fungal endocarditis.
Abteilung für Infektionskrankheiten, Inselspital Bern.
C
C
Zellweger
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S
Zimmerli
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*
D000666:Amphotericin B