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  • Title: [Left-sided endocarditis in patients with HIV infection].
    Author: Valencia Ortega ME, Guinea Esquerdo J, Enríquez Crego A, Moreno Celda V, Laguna Cuesta F, González Lahoz J.
    Journal: An Med Interna; 1999 Apr; 16(4):171-4. PubMed ID: 10339840.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Left-sided endocarditis in HIV-infected patients has an special clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics and its relationship with drug addicts subjects is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 1986 up to 1996 we have been diagnosed 214 episodes of infective endocarditis in 190 HIV-infected patients. In 34 cases (15%) there was left-sided endocarditis. These patients are described. RESULTS: Mean age was 30 years and 28 were male (82%). Thirty patients had been intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) but only 18 were active-IVDA. In three cases the endocarditis was nosocomial. Mean CD4+ lymphocyte count was 176 per mm3 and 59% were AIDS-patients. Tuberculosis was the most frequent opportunistic infection (14 cases). The presentation was subacute in 70% and the most important symptom was fever. Only 3 (9%) had septic emboli in chest X-ray. The affected valve was mitral in 31 patients (91%). The blood culture was negative in 21 episodes (62%) and only in 6, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. The mortality was 18% and 68% were outcome without any problem. CONCLUSIONS: Left-sided endocarditis in patients with HIV infection is a very serious problem. It seems to affect to patients with severe immunosuppression and the culture blood may be negative. Its diagnosis is difficult and the mortality is elevated.
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