The evolution of the clinical course of infectious endocarditis
Asauliuk, I.K.; Boĭchak, M.P.; Zagorodniĭ, S.I.
Likars'ka Sprava 3: 59-62
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 1019-5297 PMID: 10474937 Document Number: 509927
As many as 188 records of IE patients were studied as were 67 autopsies of deceased persons. Significant changes in the clinical course of IE were disclosed over the past 10-15 years versus previous 15: more prominent role of staphylococcal and gram-negative flora in the etiology of the illness, with microbial associations-caused IE cases having become more common. Diagnostic value of hemoculture did not appear to show much promise. The following items were found to be important risk factors for IE: prior viral and bacterial infection, invasive interventions, and chronic somatic diseases. There prevailed those IE forms having appeared on the intact heart valves in elderly persons and those at a mature age. In the course of the illness there tended to be more toxic and allergic manifestations, thromboembolic complications, and extensive vascular pathology.