Bacterial endocarditis on mitral prolapse revealed by cutaneous and neurological disorders. Usefulness of immunological investigations
Barrère, M.; Géraud, G.; Auvergnat, J.C.; Bes, A.
La Nouvelle Presse Medicale 10(35): 2889-2891
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1518 PMID: 7290941 Document Number: 181597
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.