Objectives: To report the Mayo Clinic experience of Q fever endocarditis.
Background: Q fever endocarditis is rare in North America with few case reports in the literature. The Centers for Disease Control lists Q fever as a reportable illness but does not differentiate endocarditis as a syndrome in its database.
Methods: A search of the database for elevated Q fever IgG serology at our institution was conducted from December 1980 to December 2005. Patients with elevated serologies were retrospectively identified and their medical records were reviewed to determine which cases met criteria for a diagnosis of endocarditis.
Results: Eight patients with elevated serology were identified. One case failed to meet criteria and was therefore excluded. All patients presented with fever and had previously diagnosed valvular disease. Only 3 patients had valvular vegetations on transesophageal echocardiography. All 7 patients were treated with antimicrobial therapy, which was not uniform. Six required surgical intervention on the affected valves, and 2 required multiple valve surgeries. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 17 years.
Conclusions: Q fever endocarditis is a rare disease in the United States, where no reliable reporting exists. Q fever endocarditis involves underlying abnormal native valves or prosthetic valves. Vegetations are small or absent. Relapses are common. Surgeries are common adding to morbidity and cost. The chronicity of the syndrome and its high morbidity mandate an increased awareness of the condition in patients with culture-negative endocarditis or unexplained perivalvular leaks detected by echocardiography. Appropriate diagnosis and tailored treatment are likely to reduce the need for repeat surgeries.