Abstract
Although infective endocarditis (IE) is not the most frequent infection seen in intravenous (IV) drug abusers (IVDAs), health care providers should always regard it as a possible diagnosis in this population. Many researchers have tried to elucidate the clinical, epidemiologic, immunologic and pathogenetic aspects of this entity. Right-sided endocarditis accounts for almost 10% of all IE episodes and has been most commonly interrelated with IV use of illicit substances. On the other hand, recent reports have proposed that left-sided valve participation is seen more often now than in the past. While, our progress in medicine, new diagnostic criteria and especially modern imaging techniques have broadened our ability to recognize IE, there are still some gray areas regarding right-sided IE. Our aim is to comprehensively review the clinical features and complications and also the possible pathogenetic and immunologic mechanisms implicated in IE patients who are injecting illicit substances.
Keywords: Infective endocarditis, drug abuse, clinical presentation, immunology, pathogenesis, unremitting fever, bacteraemia, dyspnoea, haemoptysis, conjunctival haemorrhages
Current Vascular Pharmacology
Title: Dealing with the Substance Abuse Epidemic and Infective Endocarditis:Clinical, Immunologic and Pathogenetic Aspects
Volume: 10 Issue: 2
Author(s): Ioannis Starakis, George Panos and Elias Mazokopakis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Infective endocarditis, drug abuse, clinical presentation, immunology, pathogenesis, unremitting fever, bacteraemia, dyspnoea, haemoptysis, conjunctival haemorrhages
Abstract: Although infective endocarditis (IE) is not the most frequent infection seen in intravenous (IV) drug abusers (IVDAs), health care providers should always regard it as a possible diagnosis in this population. Many researchers have tried to elucidate the clinical, epidemiologic, immunologic and pathogenetic aspects of this entity. Right-sided endocarditis accounts for almost 10% of all IE episodes and has been most commonly interrelated with IV use of illicit substances. On the other hand, recent reports have proposed that left-sided valve participation is seen more often now than in the past. While, our progress in medicine, new diagnostic criteria and especially modern imaging techniques have broadened our ability to recognize IE, there are still some gray areas regarding right-sided IE. Our aim is to comprehensively review the clinical features and complications and also the possible pathogenetic and immunologic mechanisms implicated in IE patients who are injecting illicit substances.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Starakis Ioannis, Panos George and Mazokopakis Elias, Dealing with the Substance Abuse Epidemic and Infective Endocarditis:Clinical, Immunologic and Pathogenetic Aspects, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2012; 10 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016112799304978
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016112799304978 |
Print ISSN 1570-1611 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6212 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN CHRONIC AND END STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE
Cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of death in Chronic and End Stage Kidney Disease, accounting for more than half of all deaths in dialysis patients. During the past decade, research has been focused on novel therapeutic agents that might delay or even reverse cardiovascular disease and vascular calcification, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
The Role of Diffusion- and Perfusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Drug Development for Ischemic Stroke: From Laboratory to Clinics
Current Vascular Pharmacology Management of Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis
Current Cardiology Reviews High-Level Aminoglycoside Resistance in Enterococcus Faecalis and Enterococcus Faecium; as a Serious Threat in Hospitals
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Methylene Blue not Contraindicated in Treating Hemodynamic Instability in Pediatric and Neonate Patients
Current Pediatric Reviews CA125: An Increasingly Promising Biomarker of Heart Failure
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Rationale for Comparative Studies of Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Rheumatic Diseases
Current Vascular Pharmacology Catheter Related Line Sepsis Resulting from Mycobacterium <i>chelonae</i> Infection in an Immunocompromised Host
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Recent Developments in Antithrombotic Therapy: Will Sodium Warfarin Be a Drug of the Past?
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery A Review of QSAR studies to Discover New Drug-like Compounds Actives Against Leishmaniasis and Trypanosomiasis
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Coarctation of the Aorta - An Evolution of Therapeutic Options
Current Cardiology Reviews Therapeutic Options and Emerging Alternatives for Multidrug Resistant Staphylococcal Infections
Current Pharmaceutical Design Drug Delivery Systems Based on Titania Nanotubes and Active Agents for Enhanced Osseointegration of Bone Implants
Current Medicinal Chemistry Gene Cloning and Homology Modeling of the 3-Oxoacyl-ACP Synthase from Aeromonas hydrophila for Drug Discovery
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance for Evaluation of Heart Involvement in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis. A Luxury or a Valuable Diagnostic Tool?
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Evolution and Analysis of Heterogeneity in the Clinical Expression of Aortic Diseases Similar to Marfan’s Syndrome: Challenge and Art in Clinical Diagnosis
Current Rheumatology Reviews Indications of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Cardiac Diseases
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Macrophage Heterogeneity: Relevance and Functional Implications in Atherosclerosis
Current Vascular Pharmacology Neuromuscular Disorders in Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation/Noncompaction
Current Pharmaceutical Design Infection and Hemodialysis Access: An Updated Review.
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Bacterial Protein Microarrays for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued)