Ten patients with neurological complications (KC) among a retrospectiv
e series of 53 consecutive cases of infective endocarditis were studie
d: 6 males and 4 females, mean age 60 years. NC were present at admiss
ion in 6 cases: 2 generalized seizures, 4 strokes, associated with 2 m
eningeal syndromes, Four cases of NC occurred during hospitalization:
1 stroke with coma, 1 transient ischaemic attack, 2 generalized seizur
es. Blood cultures were positive in 7 cases : 6 group D Streptococci,
1 Gram negative bacillus, Five digestive portal of entry were identifi
ed, Cerebrospinal fluid was purulent in 1 patient, aseptic in 1, haemo
rragic in 2, and normal in 1. Cranial computed tomography revealed: in
farct in 4 cases, brain abscess in 1 case, absence of abnormality in 1
case. There was no angiographic documentation. Antimicrobial therapy
was maintained 5 to 6 weeks. Two patients underwent cardiac surgery. T
wo patients died of subarachnoid haemorrage. Comparison of patients wi
th NC, and the 43 without NC, revealed two different points : vegetati
ons were more frequent in the NC (8 cases out of 10) than without NC (
19 cases out of 43) (p = 0.04). Streptoccus was often more found in NC
(6 cases out of 6) than without NC (6 cases out of 24) (p < 0.01). Co
mpared with the previously reported studies, where Staphylococcus was
usually described, our results showed a higher frequency of Streptococ
cus D bovis, an older age, a higher frequency of stroke and digestive
portal of entry. Vegetations were more frequent with NC than without.