A rare and life threatening complication of prosthetic valve endocarditis.
Up to 70% of cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) follow a preceding infection and a number of infectious agents have been described. We present a previously unreported association of Streptococcus viridans infective endocarditis affecting a prosthetic aortic valve and Guillain-Barré syndrome. This case highlights that this potentially life-threatening diagnosis should be considered in any patient presenting with symptoms of peripheral nervous system dysfunction following an infective illness.
Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G4 0SF, UK.
David P
DP
Macfarlane
William F
WF
Durward
Andrew D
AD
McGavigan
D000368:Aged; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D034363:Viridans Streptococci