NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

We reviewed the files of 80 successive patients with native and prosth etic valve endocarditis admitted to Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital. Neur ological complications (NC) occurred in 28 (35%) patients. The valves involved were mitral in 12 (43%), aortic in eight (29%), combined mitr al and aortic lesions in six (21%), and others in two (7%). The common causative organisms were Streptococci in 12 (43%), Staphylococcus aur eus and Staphylococcus epidermides, both occurring in four (14%). Comp ared to the 52 infective endocarditis patients with no neurological co mplications (NNC), the NC occurred more frequently in male patients, t hose with aortic valve lesion, those with atrial fibrillation, those w ith delayed therapy and those with causative organisms being Streptoco cci or Staphylococci. Eleven patients died (39%), 12 (43%) recovered w ith motor sequelae, six (21%) had seizure disorder, and five (18%) had full recovery. The frequency of neurological complications and mortal ity is comparable to those reported in the literature; however, the fr equency of strokes was higher in our patients.