title: Acute mitral valve endocarditis complicated by right atrial fistula in beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: Infection is considered to be among the major complications encountered in beta-thalassemia major, with an incidence that may reach 13%. The majority of cases are caused by repeated blood transfusion potentiated by the associated immune defects among these patients. The present case represents a severe form of infection affecting the mitral valve, causing acute heart failure and a fistulous communication between the left ventricle and right atrium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Makassed Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. Darwaz30@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmad K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Darwazah
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helwa
authors.forename: Barakat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharabati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents