title: Evolution of vegetation size in left-sided endocarditis. Is it a prognostic factor during hospitalization?
abstract: The objective was to describe the vegetation changes in patients with endocarditis and evaluate their prognostic importance during hospitalization. We selected patients with left-sided endocarditis and two transesophageal echocardiograms separated by at least 8 days. Patients who required surgery or died during the first week after diagnosis of the disease were excluded. Patients were classified into three groups: I, patients whose vegetation increased in size (n=34); II, patients with vegetations that did not vary in size (n=62); and III, patients whose vegetation decreased in size (n=59). Patients whose vegetation increased in size more frequently required surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that the increase in the vegetation is independently associated with increased mortality: adjusted odds ratio, 4.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.14-14.9; P=.031).
authors.affiliation: Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.forename: Isidre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vilacosta
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: José Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: San Román
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarriá
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Jacobo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies