Clinical and echocardiographic observations in pulmonary valve endocarditis

Clinical and echocardiographic data from 12 patients with pulmonary valve endocarditis are described. Seven patients had isolated pulmonary endocarditis and in 5 patients other valves were infected (aortic, tricuspid, mitral or all 3). Two patients were heroin addicts and 4 had underlying heart disease (congenital heart disease in 3 and aortic regurgitation in 1 patient). The organisms involved were alpha streptococci in 3 patients (all with underlying heart disease), Staphylococcus aureus in 4, Streptococcus D bovis in 1 patient and Candida guillermondii in 1. M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiography was performed in 10 patients and revealed vegetations in 8. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was performed in 6 patients and revealed pulmonary regurgitation in all 6. Seven patients had pulmonary emboli. Four patients underwent surgery. Four patients died, including 1 after cardiac surgery. Five patients, including the patient infected with Candida guillermondii, recovered with antibiotic treatment.