[Significance of the detection of echocardiographic vegetation for the clinical course and prognosis of infectious endocarditis].

52 patients with infective endocarditis and manifestations on 62 valves were examined by echocardiography between January 1978 and May 1983. In 34 patients (65%) vegetations were visible at least on one valve, in 10 patients (19%) the result was doubtful and in 8 patients (16%) no vegetations could be seen. In a comparison of echocardiographic and intraoperative or autopsy findings, with doubtful results left out, the over-all sensitivity was 96%, specifity 44% and reliability 83%. There was no statistically significant difference in echocardiographic results between patients who were operated upon or treated medically. Patients with positive echocardiographic vegetations had no statistically significant higher risk of embolism. Morphological aspects of the vegetations had no influence on clinical course and prognosis either. All 12 patients (23%) who died had positive echocardiographic vegetations. Yet the difference from the surviving group was not significant. Hence, echocardiography is a sufficiently sensitive and reliable method for the detection of vegetations in patients with infective endocarditis. However, echocardiographic findings alone are of no consequence in medical or surgical treatment, arterial embolization or prognosis.