Chlamydia trachomatis endocarditis

A case of infective endocarditis due to Chlamydia trachomatis immunotype F is reported. Multiple negative blood cultures were a major deterrant from the initial clinical diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Postmortem ultrastructural identification of Chlamydia in the aortic valve vegetation led to an intensive retrospective study of retrieved serum samples utilizing microimmunofluorescent tests. Likewise an unusual echocardiographic finding was discovered to be the ultrasonic visualization of an aortic ring abscess. No similar case could be found in the literature. Clinicopathologic correlations are presented.