ABSTRACT
A clinical analysis of infective endocarditis was done in 34 patients who were admitted to National Medical Center from march. 1972 to June. 1984, and the results were as follows. 1) There was no difference in ratio between sexes. The prevalence was highest in the 3rd decade. 2) The important preexisting heart diseases were rheumatic heart disease(32.4%), congenital heart disease(17.6%) and undefined cardiac condition(20.6%) in order of frequency. 3) The common symptoms and signs on admission were fever(88.3%), cardiac murmur(79.4%), malaise(70.6%), dyspnea (64.7%), palpitation(55.9%) and hepatosplenomegaly(55.9%). 4) The positive blood culture was obtained in 15(47%) of the cases. Those who had not received antibiotics before admission showed higher rate of positive culture(72.7%) than in those who had received(33.3%). 5) The laboratary findings revealed anemia(73.5%), leukocytosis(35.3%), increased ESR(73.5%), microscopic hematuria(61.8%) and positive CRP(100.0%). 6) The EKG findings showed normal(11.8%), sinus tachycardia(32.4%), LV hypertrophy(29.4%), non-specific ST-T change(20.6%) and AV block(14.7%). 7) Vegetation was detected by echocardiography in 43% of cases and the most frequently involved valve was aortic(66.7%). 8) The combination of penicillin and aminoglycoside was effective in 86.4% of patients so treated.