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Published on: February 4, 2021
[Aortic valve degenerative disease with patent ductus arteriosus infective endocarditis: A case report]
Guiyang Chen1, Liying Gong2, Hanying Liu3
1Department of Cardiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Insights
This case study highlights infective endocarditis (IE) where aortic valve vegetations detached, traveled through a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), causing lung lesions. Prompt antibiotic treatment resolved the pulmonary infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) involves microbial infection of heart valves, frequently causing vegetations.
- Pulmonary manifestations of IE are uncommon, often presenting as septic emboli.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old female presented with prolonged fever and a lung cavity on CT, initially suspected as inflammation or tuberculosis.
- Echocardiography revealed aortic valve vegetations and an abscess, with surgery uncovering a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with valvular degeneration with infection, with coccus identified in pathological tissue.
- Post-surgical treatment with vancomycin, sensitive to Enterococcus faecalis, led to significant absorption of the lung lesion.
Implications:
- This case illustrates a rare presentation of IE where aortic valve vegetations embolized to the lungs via a PDA.
- It underscores the importance of considering IE in patients with unexplained fever and pulmonary lesions, especially with concurrent cardiac abnormalities.
Objective:
Infective endocarditis (IE) refers to the pathogenic microbial infect the endocardium, valves or intima adjacent to the cardiac arteries through the bloodstream with the formation of vegetations. Valves are the most frequently affected sites. Here, we described a 49-year-old female, who admitted to respiratory outpatient department in the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University for long time of fever. Chest computer tomography (CT) found a thick wall cavity in the apex of the right lung with smooth wall and fluid plane, without enhancement, which was considered as inflammation and tuberculosis to be excluded. Echocardiography showed vegetations on the aortic valve, where abscess was found on the root. Accidentally in surgery, a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was found. The surgeon closed the PDA and performed aortic valve prosthetic valve replacement. Bacterial colony of coccus was found in the pathological tissue, which was consistent with the diagnosis of valvular degeneration with infection. Lung lesion was obviously absorbed after 6 weeks of treatment with vancomycin, which has been confirmed as a sensitive antibacterial drug to Enterococcus faecalis. Overall, the pulmonary lesion was caused by the detachment of bacterial neoplasm of aortic valve, which has passed through the PDA and entered the pulmonary circulation.
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Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
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