Vasculitis and cerebral hemorrhage due to infectious endocarditis: A case report

Abstract

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart with systemic consequences, both infectious and non-infectious. Infective endocarditis can affect several systems, one of which is the central nervous system. The most common form of presentation is ischemic stroke; however, intracranial hemorrhage can occur due to immune-mediated damage to the vessel wall. The former further complicates cardiac surgical procedures when necessary. We present here the case of a 21-year-old male patient, with no personal medical history, who presented with intracranial hemorrhage due to a vasculitis phenomenon, caused by Streptococcus gordonii infective endocarditis. The patient underwent emergency drainage of the intracranial hemorrhage and minimally invasive valve surgery in 17 days, with satisfactory postoperative recovery and follow-up.