[Neurological complications of infectious endocarditis]

Of 204 patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) treated in the hospital in 1980-2000, 43(21.2%) developed neurological complications. These were: ischemic stroke (72.1%), hemorrhagic stroke (9.3%), both (7%), abscess and subarachnoidal hemorrhage (2.3% for each), meningitis (7%), toxic encephalopathy (11.6%). Neurological complications of IE arose prior to treatment and within the first week of antibacterial therapy in 63% cases, more frequently in the left carotid territory. Neurological complications in IE debute manifested acutely, pareses were more frequent than paralyses, with elevated temperature, low hemoglobin and red cell levels, leukocytosis. MRT detected 8 +/- 4.6 foci in the brain, CT--2 +/- 1.1, on the average. Lethality of IE patients with neurological complications reached 58.1% and was significantly higher than in those without such complications (14.9%, p < 0.001). Overall acturial survival 1 year after the discharge from the hospital was 94.4%, 5-year survival--61.1%, 10-year survival--11%.