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Alshwayyat S, Hanifa H, Amro AM, Alshwayyat M, Odat RM, Mahmoud LM, Altajjar A. From flank pain to splenic abscess: a complex case of infective endocarditis with literature review. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2024; 24:520. [PMID: 39333865 PMCID: PMC11430165 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-04207-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe condition characterized by inflammation of the heart endocardium and valves, commonly caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Complications such as embolic phenomena and organ abscesses can arise, necessitating timely diagnosis and intervention. CASE PRESENTATION We report the case of a 20-year-old female with a history of cerebral and splenic infarctions due to IE. The patient presented with left-sided flank pain, urinary burning, and fever. Examination revealed mitral and aortic valve involvement, splenomegaly, and neurological deficits. Despite initial antibiotic therapy, the patient developed a splenic abscess and drug-induced neutropenia. She required aortic valve replacement and was successfully managed with a multidisciplinary approach. CONCLUSION Multidisciplinary management, including timely surgical intervention and advanced imaging, is essential for favorable outcomes in IE patients. This case underscores the importance of early detection and tailored treatment strategies in managing severe complications associated with IE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hamdah Hanifa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Kalamoon, Al-Nabk, Syria.
| | - Alhareth M Amro
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | | | - Ramez M Odat
- Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | | | - Ali Altajjar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kalamoon, Al-Nabk, Syria
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Montarello N, Bioh G, Byrne C, Hassan I, Androshchuk V, Demetrescu C, Mak SM, Rajani R. Cardiac computed tomography in infective endocarditis: "bridging the detection gap". Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1459833. [PMID: 39309605 PMCID: PMC11415862 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1459833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Infective Endocarditis (IE) remains a significant health challenge. Despite an increasing awareness, mortality is high and has remained largely unchanged over recent decades. Early diagnosis of IE is imperative and to assist clinicians several diagnostic criteria have been proposed. The best known are the Duke criteria. Originally published in 1994, these criteria have undergone significant modifications. This manuscript provides a timeline of the successive changes that have been made over the last 30 years. Changes which to a large degree have reflected both the evolving epidemiology of IE and the proliferation and increasing availability of advanced multi-modality imaging. Importantly, many of these changes now form part of societal guidelines for the diagnosis of IE. To provide validation for the incorporation of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in current guidelines, the manuscript demonstrates a spectrum of pictorial case studies that re-enforce the utility and growing importance of early cardiac CT in the diagnosis and treatment of suspected IE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Montarello
- Cardiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Bioh
- Cardiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Calum Byrne
- Cardiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Imtiaz Hassan
- Cardiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vitaliy Androshchuk
- Cardiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camelia Demetrescu
- Cardiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sze Mun Mak
- Department of Radiology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ronak Rajani
- Cardiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Akiki R, Ozturk NB, Patel R, Bernacki K, Davila F. Tropheryma whipplei Endocarditis Presenting as Valvulopathy and Multiple Septic Emboli. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:1252-1256. [PMID: 38332441 PMCID: PMC11116342 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-08663-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
A 63-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for nausea, vomiting, and right flank pain. He was found to have septic emboli in multiple organs secondary to aortic valve endocarditis. He was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics and underwent valve replacement. Blood cultures from admission were negative, but a blood polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for fastidious difficult-to-culture pathogens showed a positive result for Tropheryma whipplei. Valve histopathological evaluation confirmed Tropheryma whipplei endocarditis. He was treated with intravenous penicillin followed by oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. A high index of suspicion for causes of culture-negative endocarditis needs to be maintained when blood cultures are negative despite clear evidence of endocarditis especially with large vegetation sizes and other complications such as septic emboli. Multiple imaging modalities are available to assist with diagnosis including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiogram as well as cardiac computed tomography. A blood PCR test can identify the implicated pathogen in a more expeditious manner compared to valve histopathological evaluation. Treatment is complex and usually requires surgical intervention and prolonged antimicrobial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Akiki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
| | - Nazli Begum Ozturk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Reenal Patel
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Kurt Bernacki
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Francisco Davila
- Department of Internal Medicine, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA
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Babes EE, Bustea C, Ilias TI, Babes VV, Luca SA, Luca CT, Radu AF, Tarce AG, Bungau AF, Bustea C. Multimodality Imaging Diagnosis in Infective Endocarditis. Life (Basel) 2023; 14:54. [PMID: 38255669 PMCID: PMC10821102 DOI: 10.3390/life14010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Imaging is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis (IE). Echocardiography is an essential examination, especially in native valve endocarditis (NVE), but its diagnostic accuracy is reduced in prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The diagnostic ability is superior for transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), but a negative test cannot exclude PVE. Both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE can provide normal or inconclusive findings in up to 30% of cases, especially in patients with prosthetic devices. New advanced non-invasive imaging tests are increasingly used in the diagnosis of IE. Nuclear medicine imaging techniques have demonstrated their superiority over TEE for the diagnosis of PVE and cardiac implantable electronic device infective endocarditis (CIED-IE). Cardiac computed tomography angiography imaging is useful in PVE cases with inconclusive TTE and TEE investigations and for the evaluation of paravalvular complications. In the present review, imaging tools are described with their values and limitations for improving diagnosis in NVE, PVE and CIED-IE. Current knowledge about multimodality imaging approaches in IE and imaging methods to assess the local and distant complications of IE is also reviewed. Furthermore, a potential diagnostic work-up for different clinical scenarios is described. However, further studies are essential for refining diagnostic and management approaches in infective endocarditis, addressing limitations and optimizing advanced imaging techniques across different clinical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Emilia Babes
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania; (E.E.B.); (A.-F.R.); (A.F.B.)
- Department of Medical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania; (T.I.I.); (V.V.B.)
| | - Cristiana Bustea
- Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | - Tiberia Ioana Ilias
- Department of Medical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania; (T.I.I.); (V.V.B.)
| | - Victor Vlad Babes
- Department of Medical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania; (T.I.I.); (V.V.B.)
| | - Silvia-Ana Luca
- Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Timisoara, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center of the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Timisoara, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Constantin Tudor Luca
- Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Timisoara, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center of the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Timisoara, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andrei-Flavius Radu
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania; (E.E.B.); (A.-F.R.); (A.F.B.)
- Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | - Alexandra Georgiana Tarce
- Medicine Program of Study, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania;
| | - Alexa Florina Bungau
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania; (E.E.B.); (A.-F.R.); (A.F.B.)
- Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | - Cristian Bustea
- Department of Surgery, Oradea County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 410169 Oradea, Romania;
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Moscatelli S, Leo I, Bianco F, Surkova E, Pezel T, Donald NA, Triumbari EKA, Bassareo PP, Pradhan A, Cimini A, Perrone MA. The Role of Multimodality Imaging in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease and Infective Endocarditis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3638. [PMID: 38132222 PMCID: PMC10742664 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13243638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) represents an important medical challenge, particularly in patients with congenital heart diseases (CHD). Its early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management to improve patient outcomes. Multimodality imaging is emerging as a powerful tool in the diagnosis and management of IE in CHD patients, offering a comprehensive and integrated approach that enhances diagnostic accuracy and guides therapeutic strategies. This review illustrates the utilities of each single multimodality imaging, including transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and nuclear imaging modalities, in the diagnosis of IE in CHD patients. These imaging techniques provide crucial information about valvular and intracardiac structures, vegetation size and location, abscess formation, and associated complications, helping clinicians make timely and informed decisions. However, each one does have limitations that influence its applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Moscatelli
- Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK; (S.M.); (N.A.D.)
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Isabella Leo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
- CMR Unit, Cardiology Department, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guys’ and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, London SW3 5NP, UK
| | - Francesco Bianco
- Cardiovascular Sciences Department, AOU “Ospedali Riuniti”, 60126 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Elena Surkova
- Department of Echocardiography, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 5NP, UK;
| | - Théo Pezel
- Département de Cardiologie, Université Paris-Cité, Hôpital Universitaire de Lariboisière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Inserm UMRS 942, 75010 Paris, France;
| | - Natasha Alexandra Donald
- Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK; (S.M.); (N.A.D.)
| | | | - Pier Paolo Bassareo
- School of Medicine, University College of Dublin, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland Crumlin, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Akshyaya Pradhan
- Department of Cardiology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India;
| | - Andrea Cimini
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, St. Salvatore Hospital, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Alfonso Perrone
- Division of Cardiology and CardioLab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Clinical Pathways and Epidemiology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
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