An Infective Endocarditis with Abscess Formation not Accompanied with Heart Failure

Heart failure is the most common cause of death of infective endocarditis. The contributing factors of heart failure include valve destruction, myocarditis, coronary artery emboli with myocardial infarction and abscess. Recently, we experienced a thiry nine year-old man who was hospitalized at Inha University Hospital because of fever, chill and dyspnea (NYHA functional class I-II). The grade IV/Vi systolic murmur was heard at the right upper sternal border and the apex and the grade III/VI diastolic murmur was heard at Erb's area. No crackles were heard. Blook cultures grew Streptococcus viridans. Chest X-ray showed mild cardiomegaly without pulmonary congestion sign. Echocardiogram showed aortic valve vegetations, abscess and grade II/IV aortic regurgitation. Aortic valve replacement and abscess removal were performed. Findings included henegg sized abscess which reduced 70% of cross sectional area of left ventricular outflow tract and located between posterior wall of left ventricle and right and left coronary rings.