Occult deterioration of an aortic annular abscess: how do we diagnose a pseudoaneurysm periaortic valve? A case report

BACKGROUND: Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a disease caused by the colonization of toxic microorganisms on the endocardium of heart valves [1]. Although much progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of IE, its complications, such as annular abscesses [2], still have a high mortality rate. In this case, we describe a patient with infective endocarditis complicated by occult deteriorated aortic annular abscess. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old man was admitted due to weakness of his right limbs and unclear speech for 10 h. He had recurrent fevers for 1 month before admission. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a mix-echoic vegetation attached to the bicuspid aortic valve, moderate aortic regurgitation and a possible aortic annular abscess. Blood cultures were negative and empiric antibiotic therapy was begun. The patient did not have fever again and seem to be clinically improved. However, follow-up transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large periaortic abscess led to aortic sinus pseudoaneurysm. The patient underwent mechanical prosthetic valve replacement and annulus reconstruction successfully. Perivalvular abscess may be insidious deterioration in patients who seem to be clinically improved, which requires us to pay more attention. DISCUSSION: Occult deterioration of an aortic annular abscess is rare and more attention should be paid. Re-evaluation of echocardiography is required even if the patient’s symptoms improve.