BRUCELLOSIS AND HEART DISEASE. III. CHRONIC VALVULAR HEART DISEASE FOLLOWING NONFATAL BRUCELLOSIS

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Abstract
Autopsy studies in fatal brucellosis revealed that chronic endocarditis with calcification of the aortic valve is the most constant finding. This resembles calcific aortic stenosis. Ten patients with valvular heart disease following recovery from brucellosis were found; they are reported in detail. Chronic aortic endocarditis is the usual form of heart disease following non-fatal brucellosis. The average age at onset of brucellosis in the 10 cases was 40.7 years, at diagnosis of heart disease was 51.5 years, and at death (6 cases) was 59.5 years. Autopsies were performed in 4 of 6 patients who died; 3 showed an aortic lesion indistinguishable from calcareous disease of the aortic valve. These cases show that the active bacterial phase of brucellar endocarditis is not necessarily fatal. Brucellosis must be considered as a possible cause in cases of residual valvular heart disease.

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