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Endocarditis—NoninfectiveHow to Say It: En-doh-kar-dite-iss
by
Amy Scholten, MPH DefinitionNon-infective endocarditis is the growth of blood clots on the valves and inner walls of the heart. They can damage the heart. The growths can also break off and block blood flow in the brain, lungs, or other areas of the body. CausesThis condition is often caused by health problems that:
Risk FactorsNon-infective endocarditis is most common in those aged 30 to 70 years old. Things that raise the risk are:
SymptomsEndocarditis itself does not cause symptoms. Growths that have broken off can block the flow of blood. This can cause symptoms. Examples are symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done. The doctor may test for endocarditis—if there have been problems with blood clots. Diagnosis is based on tests, such as:
TreatmentThe goal is to stop the growth of more clots. This will help to prevent problems like a stroke. Medicine can make it harder for blood to clot. This can stop clots, but also increase the risk of bleeding. Problems that raise the risk of blood clots will also need to be treated. PreventionThere are no known guidelines to prevent this condition. RESOURCES:American Heart Association https://www.heart.org National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Health Canada https://www.canada.ca Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada https://www.heartandstroke.ca References:Bussani R, De-Giogio F, et al. Overview and comparison of infectious endocarditis and non-infectious endocarditis: a review of 814 autoptic cases. In Vivo. 2019; 33(5): 1565–1572.
Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/nonbacterial-thrombotic-endocarditis-nbte. Accessed September 1, 2021.
Noninfective endocarditis. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/endocarditis/noninfective-endocarditis. Accessed September 1, 2021. Last reviewed July 2021 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Nicole Meregian, PA Last Updated: 9/1/2021 | |