Infective endocarditis mimicking antineutrophil-cytoplasmic-antibody-associated vasculitis with glomerulonephritis: a case report

TL;DR

A case report shows how infective endocarditis can mimic vasculitis, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis to avoid harmful treatments.

Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting a case where infective endocarditis was misdiagnosed as vasculitis due to shared antibody positivity.

Findings

Infective endocarditis can present with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity, mimicking vasculitis.

Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate immunosuppressive therapy, which is harmful in endocarditis.

Accurate differentiation is essential for proper treatment and patient outcomes.

Abstract

Infective endocarditis occasionally presents with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity, leading to diagnostic challenges and confusion, as it can be mislabeled antineutrophil-cytoplasmic-antibody-associated vasculitis. Distinguishing between these two factors is crucial for appropriate management.

In this case report, we describe a 77-year-old White non-Hispanic male patient who initially presented with features suggestive of antineutrophil-cytoplasmic-antibody-associated vasculitis but was ultimately diagnosed with infective endocarditis.

Our findings emphasize the need to rule out infective endocarditis in patients with suspected antineutrophil-cytoplasmic-antibody-associated vasculitis, as it can be the same, and management relies on different lines of therapy. Immunosuppression therapy can lead to devastating effects in patients with infective endocarditis.

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