Culture-negative suppurative endocarditis causing severe mitral valve obstruction: complementary use of transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography

Echocardiography. 2003 Jul;20(5):429-34. doi: 10.1046/j.1540-8175.2003.03080.x.

Abstract

Infective endocarditis causes a myriad number of serious complications. Mitral valve obstruction is a rare complication. We report a 48-year-old Asian female who presented with two-week duration of fever and rapidly developed acute pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. Sequential transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a rapidly growing vegetation on the anterior mitral leaflet with severe stenosis of the valve. All the blood cultures were negative. The patient underwent a successful mitral valve replacement. A review of 21 previously reported cases of mitral valve obstruction from endocarditis demonstrates the poor prognosis of this entity and supports early surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Echocardiography*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / complications*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / etiology*
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / surgery