Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026
12:12
Echocardiographic Approaches and Protocols for Comprehensive Phenotypic Characterization of Valvular Heart Disease in Mice
Published on: February 14, 2017
Quantitative analysis of valvular lesions during Bartonella endocarditis
H Lepidi1, P E Fournier, D Raoult
1Unité des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS UPRESA 6020, WHO Collaborative Center, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
|May 8, 2001
Summary
Bartonella endocarditis cases show distinct valve pathology, including increased fibrosis and calcification, suggesting prolonged infection. Histology and immunohistology aid diagnosis when other methods fail.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bartonella endocarditis is a serious infection affecting heart valves.
- Understanding the specific pathological features of Bartonella endocarditis is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cardiac valve pathology in Bartonella endocarditis with non-Bartonella infective endocarditis.
- To evaluate the utility of Warthin-Starry stain and immunohistology in detecting Bartonella species in resected valves.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative image analysis of cardiac valve histology from 15 Bartonella endocarditis patients and 25 controls.
- Pathologic and immunohistologic testing (Warthin-Starry stain, antibody-based immunodetection) on resected valves.
Main Results:
- Bartonella endocarditis valves exhibited greater fibrosis and calcification, less vascularization, and reduced vegetation and inflammation compared to controls.
- These features suggest a prolonged infectious process.
- Warthin-Starry stain and immunohistology detected Bartonella in most tested valves, often in extracellular locations without inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac valve pathology in Bartonella endocarditis differs significantly from other forms of infective endocarditis.
- Histopathology and immunohistology are valuable tools for diagnosing Bartonella endocarditis, especially when serology or molecular methods are unavailable.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
Mitral stenosis is a heart condition in which the mitral valve, which allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, becomes narrowed or stenotic. This narrowing hinders blood flow and leads to clinical symptoms requiring specific medical evaluations and management strategies. The following overview outlines the clinical symptoms, assessments, diagnostic findings, prevention methods, and treatments for mitral stenosis.Clinical ManifestationsDyspnea (shortness of breath): This...
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Aortic valve regurgitation (AR) occurs when the aortic valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward from the aorta into the left ventricle. This backflow can result in two distinct clinical presentations: acute and chronic AR, each characterized by its own set of symptoms and physical findings.Acute Aortic RegurgitationAcute AR presents with a sudden onset of severe symptoms. Patients typically experience profound dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest pain, and signs of left...
01:25Endocarditis I: Introduction
Introduction:Endocarditis is the infection of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart and its valves. When the heart muscle is involved, the condition is termed myocarditis, while an infection of the outer lining is called pericarditis. Infective endocarditis (IE) primarily affects the endocardium, where pathogens adhere to the valves or lining, forming vegetation that can lead to severe complications. Infective endocarditis occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from other body...
01:25Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
01:18Endocarditis III: Medical Management
Infective endocarditis management involves a multifaceted approach encompassing infection prevention, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological therapy, and surgical management.Infection Prevention:Hand Hygiene: Thorough handwashing is crucial to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene should be performed regularly, especially before and after using the restroom.Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential. It includes brushing teeth immediately after waking up and before bed, flossing...
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...