Effect of Hufnagel valve on susceptibility of dogs to endocarditis.

Abstract

Endocarditis is a frequent and serious problem in patients with aortic insufficiency.1This problem may be approached experimentally by using dogs with aortic insufficiency,2which are highly susceptible to endocarditis.3-5Infections resembling acute and subacute bacterial endocarditis have been produced consistently in such dogs by either single or multiple intravenous injections of cultures of Staphylococcus aureus (Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus) or Streptococcus mitis. In addition, the dogs given S. mitis often developed a diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, similar to that associated with human endocarditis.4The present study was undertaken to determine whether a Hufnagel valve, by reducing the cardiac work load, would lessen the susceptibility of dogs with aortic insufficiency to endocarditis and glomerulonephritis. Methods Moderately severe aortic insufficiency was induced in 10 healthy mongrel dogs, weighing 10 to 20 kg., by perforating the right aortic leaflet with a punch introduced via the ascending aorta.2The