Bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis complicated by perivalvular abscess

Tomoya Hara; Takeshi Soeki; Toshiyuki Niki; Kenya Kusunose; Koji Yamaguchi; Yoshio Taketani; Takashi Iwase; Hirotsugu Yamada; Tetsuzo Wakatsuki; Masashi Akaike; Masataka Sata

doi:10.2152/jmi.59.261

Case reports

Bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis complicated by perivalvular abscess

Tomoya Hara, Takeshi Soeki, Toshiyuki Niki, Kenya Kusunose, Koji Yamaguchi, Yoshio Taketani, Takashi Iwase, Hirotsugu Yamada, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Masashi Akaike, Masataka Sata

Author information

Tomoya Hara
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Takeshi Soeki
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Toshiyuki Niki
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Kenya Kusunose
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Koji Yamaguchi
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Yoshio Taketani
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Takashi Iwase
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Hirotsugu Yamada
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Tetsuzo Wakatsuki
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Masashi Akaike
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School
Masataka Sata
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School

Keywords: bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), infectious endocarditis (IE), perivalvular abscess (PVA), echocardiography

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2012 Volume 59 Issue 3.4 Pages 261-265

DOI https://doi.org/10.2152/jmi.59.261

Details

Abstract

A 37-year-old man presenting with fever and chest pain was admitted to our hospital. Electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia and complete left bundle branch block. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed infective endocarditis in the bicuspid aortic valve, complicated by multiple hyperechoic vegetations and severe aortic regurgitation. Blood cultures were negative and intravenous empiric antibiotic therapy was begun. However, fever lasted for 7 days and follow-up echocardiography revealed a newly emerged perivalvular abscess. The patient eventually underwent an urgent aortic root replacement that confirmed the echocardiographic findings. Our case report emphasizes that all patients with suspected aortic valve endocarditis should undergo early and follow-up echocardiographic studies. J. Med. Invest. 59: 261-265, August, 2012

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