Endocarditis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Endocarditis Definition

Endocarditis is an inflammation of the endocardium. Endocarditis is a form of vegetative endocarditis found in association with systemic lupus erythematosus. In endocarditis, fibrin and platelets aggregate on the valve tissue and engulf circulating bacteria or fungi that flourish and produce friable verrucous vegetations. The vegetations may also be formed from neutrophils, lymphocytes, and histiocytes.

Endocarditis is the most common cardiac manifestation of lupus. Endocarditis is also known as infective endocarditis, atypical verrucous endocarditis, libman-Sacks syndrome, nonbacterial verrucous endocarditis and bacterial endocarditis.

Endocarditis Causes

The infection on the valve can cause build up of nodules on the valves called vegetations. These valve vegetations can be detected by echocardiogram of the heart. Endocarditis is a serious infection of one of the four heart valves. Many bacteria may be caused endocarditis, but an organism commonly found in the mouth, Streptococcus viridans , is responsible for approximately half of all bacterial endocarditis.

Endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart chambers and heart valves caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other infectious agents. Most people who develop infectious endocarditis have underlying heart disease. Since Streptococcus viridans is often found in the mouth, dental procedures are the most common cause of bacterial endocarditis.

Endocarditis Symptoms

Early clinical features of endocarditis are usually nonspecific. A suddenly changing murmur or the discovery of a new murmur in the presence of fever is a classic physical sign of endocarditis.

The other symptoms of the endocarditis may be included:

• chills
• fever
• pains
• paleness
• skin spots
• fatigue
• anemia
• weight loss
• joint pain
• night sweats
• weakness
• muscle aches
• heart murmur
• nail abnormalities
• blood in urine
• skin lesions
• malaise shortness of breath
• swelling of feet, legs

Endocarditis Treatments

Hospitalization may be required initially to administer intravenous antibiotics.

Antibiotics may be used in case of endocarditis. Antibiotics used include oral amoxicillin and erythromycin, as well as intramuscular or intravenous ampicillin, gentamicin, and vancomycin.

If heart failure develops as a result of damaged heart valves, surgery to replace the affected heart valve may be indicated.

Amphotherycin B may be the progressive doses and Ancotyl. It does not usually dispense from the surgery.

Supportive treatment includes bed rest, aspirin for fever and aches, and sufficient fluid intake.