title: [Stroke as a manifestation of acute Bartonella henselae endocarditis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bartonella, a small gram-negative bacillus, causes a variety of diseases and presents with different clinical manifestations, one of which is infective endocarditis (IE). IE due to B. henselae is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality due to the destructive potential of the organism to the heart valves and due to the great risk of embolic complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 37-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to sub-febrile fever and weakness. Investigation revealed he had IE caused by B. henselae. His mitral valve was severely damaged and he experienced a cerebrovascular event, caused by septic emboli. The severe damage to the mitral valve and the presence of septic emboli necessitated valvular replacement surgery. The case involved a therapeutic dilemma, due to the patient's neurological complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since B. henselae is an important pathogen associated with culture-negative IE, there should be a high index of suspicion for the presence of this pathogen in cases presenting with signs of infection associated with embolic events. This condition requires a careful diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
authors: Internal Medicine D, Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Schneer
authors: Dana
authors: D
authors: Marcoviciu
authors: Viktoria
authors: V
authors: Beilin
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Goffman
authors: Dror
authors: D
authors: Dicker
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D016917:Angiomatosis, Bacillary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*