Case report reveals splenic infarction as a rare presentation of infective endocarditis, suggesting the need for prompt diagnosis.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare life-threatening condition often complicated by splenic emboli with splenic infraction beingan uncommon presentation. We report a 34-year-old man, presenting with acute left flank pain and fever. Imaging confirmed splenicinfraction and echocardiography revealed vegetation on a bicuspid aortic valve with grade II aortic insufficiency. Blood culturesidentified staphylococcus aureus. Initial treatment with ceftriaxone was adjusted to targeted antibiotics but the patient developedan ischemic stroke. After six weeks of therapy aortic valve replacement led to improvement. This case highlights the diagnosticchallenge of IE presenting as splenic infraction and the critical role of early echocardiography and blood cultures in febrile patientsto prevent severe complications.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
AJARCIF et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: