[Bacterial endocarditis on mitral prolapse revealed by cutaneous and neurological disorders. Usefulness of immunological investigations (author's transl)].

In a 32-year-old woman with mitral prolapse, bacterial endocarditis was preceded by a long period of neuralgias and skin lesions. Thrombosis of the Sylvian artery heralded the onset of the disease which remained for a long time apyretic and was marked by several cerebral vascular accidents. After failure of antibiotic therapy the mitral valve was replaced by a Starr valve and the patient recovered. In view of the presence of immunological abnormalities in this patient, the mechanisms of the vascular lesions is discussed. Many authors are new giving a large place to "immunoallergic" theories in their attempts to explain the occurrence of non-specific arteritis in bacterial endocarditis.