Korean Circ J.  2011 Mar;41(3):167-170. 10.4070/kcj.2011.41.3.167.

Recurrent Infective Endocarditis Associated With Pyogenic Spondylodiskitis

• Kim JH
• Kim SK
• Kim DC
• Park HC
• Choi SI
• Shin JH
• Lee JU
• Kim JH
• Lim HK

• KMID: 2225134
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2011.41.3.167

Abstract

Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening condition caused by microbial infection of the heart's endocardial surface. This condition can also be associated with bacterial infections of other organs. We experienced an unusual case of recurrent infective endocarditis associated with pyogenic spondylodiskitis. A 70-year-old man presented with persistent fever and lower back pain visited our hospital. The patient had a past history of recurrent infective endocarditis. He was diagnosed with infective endocarditis again based on clinical symptoms and echocardiographic findings. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate lower back pain, which showed acute spondylodiskitis on L3 and L4 vertebrae. The patient completely recovered following four weeks of antibiotic therapy.

Keyword

Infective endocarditis; Spondylodiskitis

MeSH Terms

Aged
Bacterial Infections
Discitis
Endocarditis
Fever
Humans
Low Back Pain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Spine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A 2.7×1.4 cm sized vegetation on the posterior leaflet of mitral valve.

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  Fig. 2 Plain radiograph shows narrowing of the disc space at L3-L4 level. Destruction of the superior endplate of the L4 vertebra, and the inferior endplate of L3 vertebra is seen (arrow).

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  Fig. 3 Spine MRI shows abnormal high signal density in the disc within the adjacent vertebral bodies at L3-L4 level (arrow). Bony destruction of vertebral bodies is seen in L3 and L4.

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