Changing spectrum of clinical and laboratory profile of infective endocarditis

The clinical profile of 28 consecutive patients admitted with infective endocarditis (IE) between 1987 and 1988 was studied. There were 21 males and seven females with a mean age of 24 +/- 11 years. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) was the commonest underlying disease (68%) followed by congenital heart disease (CHD). Mitral regurgitation with aortic regurgitation were the commonest valvular lesions (47%) in those with RHD while ventricular septal defect was the commonest (43%) in those with CHD. A younger age of onset, complicated course and high mortality were seen in these six patients with acute IE. Persistently positive blood cultures during life or at autopsy were obtained in 21%. Strep viridans was the commonest isolate and was often resistant to streptomycin. 2D echocardicgram revealed vegetations in 96% of patients, the aortic valve (39%) being more commonly affected than the mitral valve (11%). ESR of more than 20 mm drop 1st hour (Wintrobe) was seen in 96%. Thrombophlebitis was a common complication of therapy and cloxacillin the commonest drug implicated. A mortality of 21% as a result of refractory congestive heart failure (CHF) (50%), uncontrolled sepsis (33%) and embolic events (17%) was seen. A rising incidence of culture negative IE, combined aortic and mitral valve disease and CHF is noted.