Infective endocarditis in chronic hemodialysis: A transition from left heart to right heart

Infective endocarditis (IE) of the left heart is the most frequent type of IE in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) (in 90% of cases) whereas involvement of the right heart is rare. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical, biological, and echocardiographic characteristics, as well as the prognosis of IE in CHD. This is a retrospective study conducted at the Center of Nephrology and Hemodialysis in Oujda, Morocco. Over a period of 56 months, we compiled data on a series of 11 CHD patients with IE. Their mean age was 40.5 ± 14 years, 72% were male and 27.3% had diabetes. All patients had native valve. All patients had bacteremia preceding the episode of IE. The tricuspid valve was the site of IE in 45% of the cases. Cardiac complications were observed in 72% of the patients and mortality was observed in 72% of cases. The period from IE diagnosis to death was 9 ± 6 days. In our study, the tricuspid valve was the most affected valve of IE in CHD.