Prajapati Kesar, Samaksh Fnu, Charpuria Poornima Jaiswal, Desai Nisarg, Shah Ankit V
Internal Medicine, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, USA.
Cardiology, U. N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, IND.
Cureus. 2025 Apr 18;17(4):e82491. doi: 10.7759/cureus.82491. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening condition caused by infection of the heart's endocardial surface, often involving native or prosthetic valves. It presents with diverse symptoms, ranging from isolated fever and heart failure to more severe manifestations such as ischemic stroke from septic or thrombus embolization. A rare but serious complication of IE is mitral valve aneurysm (MVA), a localized outpouching of the mitral valve, often leading to mitral regurgitation (MR), heart failure, and, in severe cases, rupture. This report highlights a case of delayed diagnosis of IE in a 34-year-old female who presented with prolonged fever, progressive dyspnea, and signs of heart failure. Echocardiography revealed severe MR, anterior mitral valve leaflet perforation, and a large pseudoaneurysm, suggesting MVA. Because of the advanced presentation, the patient developed refractory heart failure and electrical storm, leading to a fatal outcome before surgery could be performed. This case underscores the importance of early recognition of IE and MVA and the challenges in managing complicated cases, where mitral valve replacement is the preferred surgical option. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are crucial to prevent severe complications and improve prognosis.
感染性心内膜炎(IE)是一种危及生命的疾病,由心脏内膜表面感染引起,常累及自身瓣膜或人工瓣膜。其症状多样,从单纯发热和心力衰竭到更严重的表现,如因脓毒性或血栓栓塞导致的缺血性中风。IE的一种罕见但严重的并发症是二尖瓣动脉瘤(MVA),即二尖瓣的局部膨出,常导致二尖瓣反流(MR)、心力衰竭,严重时可导致破裂。本报告重点介绍了一例34岁女性IE延迟诊断的病例,该患者表现为长期发热、进行性呼吸困难和心力衰竭体征。超声心动图显示严重的MR、二尖瓣前叶穿孔和一个大的假性动脉瘤,提示MVA。由于病情进展,患者出现难治性心力衰竭和电风暴,在能够进行手术之前导致了致命的后果。该病例强调了早期识别IE和MVA的重要性以及处理复杂病例的挑战,其中二尖瓣置换是首选的手术选择。早期诊断和及时干预对于预防严重并发症和改善预后至关重要。