Authors: Evelyn E Hill Paul Herijgers Piet Claus Steven Vanderschueren Willy E Peetermans MarieChristine Herregods
Publish Date: 2008/07/16
Volume: 27, Issue: 12, Pages: 1159-1164
Abstract
Data about predictors of embolism in patients with infective endocarditis IE are conflicting This study aimed to investigate clinical and transoesophageal echocardiography TEE characteristics in predicting embolism and sixmonth mortality In this observational cohort study 216 patients with definite leftsided IE according to the modified Duke criteria were prospectively recruited All patients underwent TEE ‘Any embolism’ was defined as embolism before or after initiation of antimicrobial therapy ‘new embolism’ included embolism after initiation of antimicrobial therapy Sixtytwo of 216 patients 29 experienced any embolism New embolism occurred in 12 patients 6 7 of which were postoperative Factors significantly associated with any embolism were community origin of IE and the etiologic microorganism in particular staphylococci and nonviridans streptococci Vegetation length 10 mm showed a trend towards association with new embolism and a mobile vegetation was predictive for new embolism Sixmonth mortality was 24 52/216 In multivariable analysis age vegetation length 10 mm Staphylococcus aureus and the type of treatment predicted mortality Multiple emboli showed a trend towards association with death In conclusion any embolism occurred in over a fourth of patients A mobile vegetation was significantly associated with new embolism and vegetation length 10 mm tended to be associated with new embolism Vegetation length 10 mm predicted sixmonth mortality and multiple emboli showed a trend towards association with deathAll authors had full access to the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis All authors have seen and approved the final version There are no conflicts of interest for any coauthor or author
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