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Encephalopathy with staphylococcal endocarditis: multiple neuropathological findings
Background:
Infective endocarditis is associated with serious neurological sequelae.
Objective:
Here, we report a patient with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, secondary to congenital heart disease, with subacute onset of multiple neurological complications.
Results:
Despite prompt antibiotic treatment with rapid sterilization of blood cultures, the patient died with brain herniation within 96 hours of admission. Neuropathological examination showed intraparenchymal hemorrhages, mycotic aneurysms, micro-abscesses and septic arteritis with accompanying infarction. Immunocytochemical studies revealed enhanced CD45 and GFAP immunoreactivity, together with adenosine A1 receptor detection on macrophages and microglia.
Conclusions:
Infective endocarditis is associated with multiple neuropathological lesions, which may contribute to its poor clinical outcome and activation of cells of monocyte-microglial lineage throughout the brain.