Clinical and echocardiographic features of pulmonary valve endocarditis.

Abstract

We studied the clinical and echocardiographic features of eight patients with infective pulmonary valve endocarditis. In two patients, the vegetation was limited to the pulmonary valve; in the six other patients, infective lesions were also present on the mitral or aortic valves. None of the patients were addicted to narcotics. Seven of the eight patients had underlying congenital heart disease. In six patients the organism responsible for the infective endocarditis was Streptococcus viridans. Two-dimensional echocardiography performed using a wide-angle sector scanner was more useful than M-mode echocardiography for evaluating patients with pulmonary valve endocarditis.

Isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis: truth or myth?

“…Most data on PV IE is limited to a few small case series and case reports, some published more than 25 years ago [3–5]. Infection may only affect the pulmonic valve or may concomitantly involve the mitral or aortic valve [3,6,7]. In addition, PV IE has been associated with both structurally normal and abnormal valves [2,3,6–8].…”

“…Infection may only affect the pulmonic valve or may concomitantly involve the mitral or aortic valve [3,6,7]. In addition, PV IE has been associated with both structurally normal and abnormal valves [2,3,6–8]. The rarity of PV IE has been attributed to multiple factors including lower pressure within the right heart, lower incidence of congenital malformations or acquired valvular abnormalities, lower oxygen content of venous blood and the differences in the endothelial lining and vascularization of the valve [2,9].…”

Isolated pulmonary native valve infectious endocarditis due to Enterococcus faecalis

“…PNVIE is an unusual clinical entity associated to tricuspid valve IE in a high proportion of cases [1,2]. The most common pathogens that are reported in cases of PNVIE are Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci [1,2].…”

“…The most common pathogens that are reported in cases of PNVIE are Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci [1,2]. IE due to E. faecalis is a severe entity, often associated with some intestinal or genitourinary diseases [5].…”

“…Intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, sepsis, and catheter related infections account for the majority of predisposing factors [1][2][3]. In patients without underlying heart diseases, isolated pulmonary IE is extremely rare and only few cases have been previously reported [2,4].…”