Aortic valve endocarditis complicated by ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract

Infective endocarditis complicated by abscess formation and coronary artery compression is a rare clinical event with a high mortality rate, and diagnosis requires a heightened degree of suspicion. We present the clinical, angiographic, and echocardiographic features of a 73-year-old woman who presented with dyspnea and was found to have right coronary artery compression that was secondary to abscess formation resulting from diffuse infectious endocarditis. We discuss the patient's case and briefly review the relevant medical literature. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of abscess formation involving a native aortic valve and the right coronary artery.

Keywords: Abscess/complications; aortic diseases/complications; coronary stenosis/etiology; diagnosis, differential; endocarditis, bacterial/complications; fatal outcome; heart valve diseases/diagnosis.