Infective Endocarditis cases with the Clinical Presentation of Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO): 7 Case Reports

Abstract

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is described as documented fevers above 38.3°C, for more than three weeks of duration and lack of a specific diagnosis after one week of investigation. The most common causes of FUO in adult patients are infections, neoplasms and collagen vascular diseases. In adults, the most common causes of FUO are infections. Also in our country, more than half of the reported cases are caused by infections. Infective endocarditis is reported as the cause of 0-8% of FUO cases in developed countries, and 0-3.8% in our country. In this study, we established the diagnosis of infective endocarditis in 11.2% (7 patients) of 62 FUO patients. We discussed the diagnostic difficulties, probable predisposing factors, clinical and laboratory findings of infective endocarditis and the role of infective endocarditis in FUO cases in our cauntry by reviewing these seven patients with infective endocarditis