CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS

Objective: To investigate the presentation forms, precursor lesions, complications and other clinical parameters related to infective endocarditis. Study design: A case series. Place and duration of the study: From May 2016 to May 2017, the study was carried out in Cardiology Department of Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology for one year duration. Methodology: Data related to the symptoms, complications, predisposing factors and place of participation of the disease were collected. All patients with the possibility of infectious endocarditis were subjected to trans-thoracic echocardiography. Blood cultures were also sent. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 10. Results: 86 patients were included in the study. Fever was the most common clinical presentation in the study population (87%). The mitral valve was the most affected area (55% of patients). Most of the patients (77%) had rheumatic valve heart disease as a precursor lesion. Conclusion: The majority of patients presented with fever. The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease and embolic complications was higher. Key words: infectious endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease