Molecular imaging in Libman-Sacks endocarditis

Anders Dahl*, Bente K. Schaadt, Eric Santoni-Rugiu, Niels E. Bruun

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

    Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftArtikelForskningpeer review

    Abstract

    We present a 54-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), fever, pericardial effusion and a mitral valve vegetation. 18F-Fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography CT ( 18F-FDG-PET-CT) showed very high accumulation of the isotope at the mitral valve. The patient underwent cardiothoracic surgery and pathologic examinations showed characteristic morphology of Libman-Sacks vegetations. All microbiological examinations including blood cultures, microscopy, culture and 16s PCR of the valve were negative and the diagnosis of Libman-Sacks endocarditis was convincing. It is difficult to distinguish Libman-Sacks endocarditis from culture-negative infective endocarditis (IE). Molecular imaging techniques are being used increasingly in cases of suspected IE but no studies have previously reported the use in patients with Libman-Sacks endocarditis. In the present case, 18F-FDG-PET-CT clearly demonstrated the increased glucose uptake caused by infiltrating white blood cells in the ongoing inflammatory process at the mitral valve. In conclusion, 18F-FDGPET- CT cannot be used to distinguish between IE and non-infective Libman-Sacks vegetations.

    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    Sider (fra-til)263-266
    Antal sider4
    TidsskriftInfectious Diseases
    Vol/bind47
    Udgave nummer4
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - 1 jan. 2015

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