Cholesterol embolism after cardiac catheterization mimicking infective endocarditis.
We present a 65-year-old man with rheumatic combined valvular heart disease showing persistent fever 3 weeks after diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Infective endocarditis was strongly suspected from the clinical course, however, serial blood cultures were negative. Transesophageal echocardiography, done to investigate vegetation, revealed multiple mobile plaques in the descending aorta. Administration of both steroid and simvastatin improved both symptoms and renal function. Cholesterol embolism should be considered to be one of the possible causes of low-grade fever after cardiac catheterization especially in patients with anticoagulation.
Maki
Takakuni
T
Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Nara.
Izumi
Chisato
C
Miyake
Makoto
M
Izumi
Toshiaki
T
Takahashi
Shuichi
S
Himura
Yoshihiro
Y
Konishi
Takashi
T
D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017700:Embolism, Cholesterol / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography