[The many faces of endocarditis]. / Endokardittens mange ansikter.

BACKGROUND: Over the past years we have had a relatively large number of patients in our hospital with endocarditis. There has been a variety of clinical presentations, as illustrated by the following case presentations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have conducted a search in our data-based archives of the period from 1.1.1994 to 31.12.2001 and found 25 patients discharged with a diagnosis of endocarditis. We have chosen five case histories that we discuss in the context of published literature. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The signs and symptoms presented include a stroke, severe back pain, a swollen knee, pneumonia and cardiac failure. We especially discuss intravenous drug users and endocarditis of the heart's right side.