A Case of Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis with Vegetation in a Non-Drug Addict without Underlying Cardiac Disease

Abstract

Tricuspid valve endocarditis accounts for 5% to 10% of cases of infective endocarditis. It commonly occurs in intravenous drug abusers, intravenous catheters, alcoholism, immune deficiency and genital sepsis. But right sided infective endocarditis without predisposing factor is very rare. S. aureus is the usual pathogen. We experienced a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a 32 year old female with vegetation in a non drug addict without underlying cardiac disease. The vegetation on the septal cusp of tricuspid valve and tricuspid regurgitation were found by TTE & TEE. S. aureus was identified in 4 bottles of blood cultures. The diagnosis was delayed because the cardiac manifestations of the disease were subtle, and pleuropulmonary mani- festations predominant. So we report a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a non drug addict without underlying cardiac disease with a review of literature. (Korean Circulation J 1998;28(8 :1372-1377 KEY WORD:Tricuspid valve endocarditis.