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

TL;DR

A young woman with a heart condition developed a rare heart infection that spread to her brain, highlighting risks for similar patients.

Contribution

Highlights the rare but severe occurrence of infective endocarditis in a young HOCM patient with neurological complications.

Findings

A 39-year-old female with HOCM developed group B streptococcus infective endocarditis.

The case involved septic emboli to the brain, indicating serious neurological complications.

Abstract

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.

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