title: Complete atrioventricular block: a rare presentation of mitral valve endocarditis.
abstract: Infective endocarditis is one of the uncommon causes of complete atrioventricular (AV) block. Complications from aortic valve infection are more often associated with conduction abnormalities than with mitral valve endocarditis. In fact, complete AV block rarely occurs in mitral valve infections, with only a few cases having been reported. We report a case of mitral valve endocarditis in which the initial presentation was fever and newly developed, complete AV block. Patients with mitral valve endocarditis complicated by complete AV block are at high risk. Prompt investigation, administration of appropriate antibiotics and consideration of early surgical intervention are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Vincent Hospital, 123 Summer Street, Worcester, MA 01608, USA. kitkungvan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Danai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kitkungvan
authors.forename: Joshan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suri
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spodick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin