Case Report

Infective endocarditis on mitral annular calcification: a case report

Giovanni Minardi¹ , Paolo G Pino¹ , Martina Sordi² , Herribert Pavaci² , Carla Manzara¹ , Giovanni Pulignano¹ , Enrico Natale¹ and Carlo Gaudio²

¹  Cardiodiagnostica non invasiva, Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini, Rome, Italy

²  Second Division of Cardiology, Department of Heart and Great Vessels Attilio Reale, "Sapienza", University of Rome, Rome, Italy

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Cases Journal 2009, 2:9072doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-9072

Published:	20 November 2009

Abstract

Introduction

Mitral annular calcification is a common finding in elderly patients; it is considered a benign cardiac abnormality but it can be a predisposing factor for infective endocarditis. Although described in numerous necropsy studies, endocarditis on mitral annular calcification has rarely been reported during life, and the frequency of sepsis can be underestimated because of difficult diagnosis.

Case presentation

We present a case of infective endocarditis on mitral annulus calcification in a patient with acute coronary syndrome, diagnosed with transthoracic echocardiography.

Conclusion

Transthoracic echocardiography may contribute to a correct diagnosis, showing typical findings of infective endocarditis on mitral annular calcification in order to administrate an adequate antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing endoscopic or invasive procedures.