3D transthoracic echocardiography of brucella endoaortitis and endocarditis of the aortic valve and ascending aorta

Abstract

Endocarditis is a rare complication of brucellosis, and it is the most common cause of deaths in brucellosis. We report a case of Brucella endocarditis and endoaortitis of the bicuspid aortic valve and ascending aorta (sinotubular junction) diagnosed with real time three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography. The vegetation attached to ascending aorta could be delineated with help of 3D transthoracic echocardiography suggestive of Brucella endoaortitis which is seen in fulminant infections like brucellosis. 3D echocardiography helped to understand the pathophysiology of Brucella endo-aorto-carditis which not only infects valvular structures but also the aortic. © 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.