Symptoms occur when a blood clot breaks loose and blocks arteries elsewhere in the body.
Diagnosis is by echocardiography and blood cultures.
Treatment is with anticoagulants.
Endocarditis usually involves infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium) and/or heart valves (infective endocarditis Infective Endocarditis Infective endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart (endocardium) and usually also of the heart valves. Infective endocarditis occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel... read more 
). However, endocarditis also can occur without infection. This form is called noninfective endocarditis.
Noninfective endocarditis develops when fibrous blood clots without microorganisms (sterile vegetations) form on damaged heart valves. Damage may be due to a birth defect, rheumatic fever Rheumatic Fever Rheumatic fever is inflammation of the joints, heart, skin, and nervous system, resulting from a complication of untreated streptococcal infection of the throat. This condition is a reaction... read more 
, or an autoimmune disorder Autoimmune Disorders An autoimmune disorder is a malfunction of the body's immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues. What triggers an autoimmune disorder is not known. Symptoms vary depending... read more (in which antibodies attack the heart valves). Rarely, damage results from insertion of a catheter into the heart. People most at risk include those with the following:
Autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory connective tissue disorder that can involve joints, kidneys, skin, mucous membranes, and blood vessel walls. Problems in the... read more
or antiphospholipid syndrome (a disorder that causes excessive blood clots)Cancers of the lung, stomach, or pancreas
Other disorders that cause excessive blood clots, such as sepsis Sepsis and Septic Shock Sepsis is a serious bodywide response to bacteremia or another infection plus malfunction or failure of an essential system in the body. Septic shock is life-threatening low blood pressure ... read more (a severe blood infection), uremia (the buildup of wastes in the blood caused by kidney dysfunction), burns Burns Burns are injuries to tissue that result from heat, electricity, radiation, or chemicals. Burns cause varying degrees of pain, blisters, swelling, and skin loss. Small, shallow burns may need... read more
, or disseminated intravascular coagulation Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a condition in which small blood clots develop throughout the bloodstream, blocking small blood vessels. The increased clotting depletes the platelets... read more (when multiple small blood clots form throughout the bloodstream)
Noninfective endocarditis, like infective endocarditis, may cause heart valves to leak or not open normally. Arteries may become blocked if vegetations break loose (becoming emboli), travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, and lodge in an artery, blocking it. Sometimes blockage can have serious consequences. Blockage of an artery to the brain can cause a stroke Overview of Stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply (cerebral infarction). Symptoms occur suddenly... read more , and blockage of an artery to the heart can cause a heart attack Acute Coronary Syndromes (Heart Attack; Myocardial Infarction; Unstable Angina) Acute coronary syndromes result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery. This blockage causes unstable angina or a heart attack (myocardial infarction), depending on the location and amount... read more 
. Organs that are often affected include the lungs, kidneys, spleen, and brain. Fingers and toes may also be affected. Emboli also often travel to the skin and back of the eye (retina).
Malfunction of the heart valves can cause heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more 
. Symptoms of heart failure include cough, shortness of breath, and swelling of the legs.
Symptoms of noninfectious endocarditis occur when emboli form. The symptoms depend on what part of the body is affected.
Diagnosis of Noninfective Endocarditis
Echocardiography
Blood cultures
Distinguishing between noninfective and infective endocarditis is difficult but important because treatment differs. Noninfective endocarditis may be diagnosed when echocardiography Echocardiography and Other Ultrasound Procedures Ultrasonography uses high-frequency (ultrasound) waves bounced off internal structures to produce a moving image. It uses no x-rays. Ultrasonography of the heart (echocardiography) is one of... read more 
detects vegetations on the heart valves. Echocardiography cannot determine whether vegetations are infected. In order to detect whether microorganisms are present, blood cultures Culture of Microorganisms Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Doctors suspect an infection based on the person's symptoms, physical examination results,... read more are done. If no bacteria or other microorganisms are detected by blood culture, it is more likely that the endocarditis is noninfectious. Blood tests for substances that may indicate the cause of noninfective endocarditis may be needed.
Treatment of Noninfective Endocarditis
Treatment of underlying disease
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants, such as warfarin and heparin, may be used to prevent clotting, but their benefits have not been confirmed. Any underlying disease that has contributed to the development of noninfective endocarditis should be treated.
Prognosis is generally poor, more because of the seriousness of the underlying disorder than because of the heart problem.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
warfarin |
Coumadin, Jantoven |
heparin |
Hepflush-10 , Hep-Lock, Hep-Lock U/P, Monoject Prefill Advanced Heparin Lock Flush, SASH Normal Saline and Heparin |
