title: Infective endocarditis superimposed on a massively calcified severely stenotic congenitally bicuspid aortic valve.
abstract: We describe a 55-year-old man who presented with a stroke resulting from active infective endocarditis (IE) involving a heavily calcified bicuspid aortic valve. The case highlights the infrequency of IE involving a heavily calcified valve, the inability of the infection to penetrate the calcific deposits, and the ability of the infection to spread to the adjacent soft tissues, leading to ring abscess and its multiple complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarmast
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schussler
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Jong M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Roberts