Cardiovasc Imaging Asia.  2021 Jul;5(3):114-117. 10.22468/cvia.2021.00192.

Right-Sided Infectious Endocarditis and Pulmonary Septic Embolism Associated with Intravenous Drug Use

• Egi R
• Sugi K
• Oyama-Suzuki K
• Nakajima Y
• Fukushima K
• Nakano S

• KMID: 2519009
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22468/cvia.2021.00192

Abstract

Right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) is rare, and the diagnosis is challenging due to fewer cardiac symptoms and signs. It is well recognized that intravenous drug users (IDU) are at significantly increased risk for RSIE. Also, RSIE is associated with a broad array of extra-cardiac complications such as metastatic infection and septic embolism. However, the prevalence is significantly higher in Western populations and has rarely been reported in Japan. We report a case of IDU-induced RSIE that was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography was useful to evaluate the activity of extra-cardiac complications.

Keyword

Endocarditis; Pulmonary embolism; ¹⁸F fluorodeoxyglucose; Cardiac imaging