-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Larry M. Baddour, Arnold S. Bayer, Cerebrovascular Complications in Patients with Left-Sided Infective Endocarditis: Out of Site, Out of Mind, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 47, Issue 1, 1 July 2008, Pages 31–32, https://doi.org/10.1086/588664
Close - Share Icon Share
Extract
Left-sided infective endocarditis is a feared, life-threatening form of infective endocarditis that is frequently characterized by acute clinical events that prompt immediate medical attention. This syndrome can include the abrupt onset of CNS complications resulting from embolization from infected valvular vegetations. Moreover, such cerebrovascular complications (CVCs) are well-recognized as risk factors for a worse prognosis in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis [1].
The rate of CVC in patients with infective endocarditis has varied from study to study and is largely determined on the basis of symptomatic events. We know, however, from clinical experience and postmortem findings, that CVCs associated with infective endocarditis may also remain asymptomatic. Of course, asymptomatic embolic events can also involve other organs (especially the spleen and kidneys). An example of this type of scenario is the discovery of asymptomatic renal infarctive changes on abdominal CT in a patient who is undergoing evaluation for fever or bacteremia attributable to an undefined nidus of infection.
