Intracerebral and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage as a Result of Infective Endocarditis: A Case Report

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) may have devastating and life-threatening neurological complications. The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (e.g. subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)) is rare. A 39 years old male, came to emergency unitwith heart failure clinical features, accompanied with fever for 2 weeks, and apical systolic murmur found in the physical examination. In the second day of admission, the patient experienced a sudden decrease of conciousness, weakness of the right limbs, and slurred speech. CT scan examination showed left parietal lobe ICH with volume ± 20 cc, and SAH in left parietal lobe, basalsystern, to pontine systern. Echocardiography revealed AML flail with severe mitral regurgitation and vegetation in AML. Empirical parenteral antibiotics ceftriaxone and gentamicin were given. In the following day, the conciousness was increasing. Later, the blood culture examination showed growing of Staphylococcus saprophyticus.Intracranial hemorrhage may cause worseningin patient’s condition, and require withdrawal in anticoagulant therapy. Cardiac surgery should be delayed.Despite of its uncommon incidence, physician should be aware of the neurological complication of IE to recognize and do the prompt treatment of the disease.