Echocardiographic features of Candida species endocarditis : 12 cases and a review of published reports

To describe the specific echocardiographic features of Candida species endocarditis. Retrospective review of the case records of patients with confirmed candida endocarditis. Cases referred to three French university centres over an eight year period were studied. 12 patients with confirmed Candida...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British heart journal 2001-08, Vol.86 (2), p.179-182
Main Authors: DONAL, E, ABGUEGUEN, P, COISNE, D, GOUELLO, J. P, MCFADDEN, E. P, ALLAL, J, CORBI, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis. Bacterial diseases of the aorta, limb vessels and lymphatic vessels
Biological and medical sciences
Candidiasis - diagnostic imaging
Candidiasis - surgery
Cardiovascular Medicine
Diagnosis
Echocardiography
Echocardiography - methods
Endocarditis - diagnostic imaging
Endocarditis - microbiology
Endocarditis - surgery
Endocarditis, Bacterial
Female
Heart
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
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Summary:To describe the specific echocardiographic features of Candida species endocarditis. Retrospective review of the case records of patients with confirmed candida endocarditis. Cases referred to three French university centres over an eight year period were studied. 12 patients with confirmed Candida species endocarditis infection were identified. The transthoracic (n = 12) and transoesophageal (n = 12) echocardiographic appearances were compared with the surgical findings (n = 10). Large dense heterogeneous vegetations were found in 11/12 cases. A hyperechogenic heterogeneous myocardial texture, observed in seven of the 12 patients, was associated with extensive myocardial damage at surgery. While it was possible to diagnose candidal cardiac infection in all patients by transthoracic echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography was useful for optimal assessment of the valvar and paravalvar structures. In the setting of endocarditis, the detection of myocardial involvement, which is characterised by a heterogeneous myocardial texture, is an argument in favour of Candida species endocarditis and may warrant early surgical intervention.
ISSN:1355-6037
0007-0769
1468-201X
DOI:10.1136/heart.86.2.179