Complexities of Infective Endocarditis in a Young Patient With Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: A Case of Dual Valve Involvement and Neurological Complications

• Published in: Cureus Vol. 16; no. 4; p. e57437
• Main Authors: Yetiskul, Ekrem, Hussain, Mohammad M, Khan, Danyal F, Khan, Salman, Spagnola, Jonathan
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2024
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57437

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening infection predominantly affecting the endocardium and heart valves, commonly seen in older patients and those with pre-existing cardiac conditions. Although rare in younger individuals with intact cardiac valves, certain structural heart diseases such as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) can increase the risk. We present a unique case of a 39-year-old female with a known history of HOCM, a condition characterized by abnormally thickened cardiac muscle primarily affecting the left ventricle. This patient was diagnosed with group B streptococcus infective endocarditis. Notably, this case was complicated by septic emboli to the brain. This case underscores the significant risk of IE in patients with HOCM, a demographic usually less susceptible to IE. It underscores the importance of early recognition and aggressive management of IE, especially in patients with structural heart diseases.