What is endocarditis?

What is endocarditis?

• A. Inflammation of the inner layer of the heart and heart valves, characterized by vegetation on echocardiogram and flu-like symptoms.
• B. Inflammation of the pericardial sac with pleuritic chest pain.
• C. Inflammation of the myocardium diagnosed by biopsy.
• D. Inflammation of the lungs causing pneumonia.

Answer: (A)

Endocarditis is infection and inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, the endocardium, most often involving the heart valves. The hallmark is the formation of vegetations on the valves, which can be seen on echocardiography. Patients typically have flu-like symptoms such as fever and malaise, and may develop signs of embolic phenomena or heart failure if the valves are damaged. Pericarditis, by contrast, involves the pericardial sac and presents with pleuritic chest pain; myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle and is diagnosed by biopsy or specific imaging findings; pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Therefore, the description of inner heart lining involvement with valve vegetations and flu-like symptoms best matches endocarditis.

Endocarditis is infection and inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, the endocardium, most often involving the heart valves. The hallmark is the formation of vegetations on the valves, which can be seen on echocardiography. Patients typically have flu-like symptoms such as fever and malaise, and may develop signs of embolic phenomena or heart failure if the valves are damaged. Pericarditis, by contrast, involves the pericardial sac and presents with pleuritic chest pain; myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle and is diagnosed by biopsy or specific imaging findings; pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Therefore, the description of inner heart lining involvement with valve vegetations and flu-like symptoms best matches endocarditis.