Endocarditis of the pulmonary valve complicating interventricular communication. Echocardiographic detection

A 29-year old woman known to have Roger's disease was hospitalized for streptococcal endocarditis with pulmonary embolism and cerebral vascular accident. Echocardiography demonstrated vegetations on the pulmonary valve, and this was confirmed at surgery. Pulmonary valve endocarditis is a rare lesion sometimes occurring as a complication of congenital malformations with ventricular septal defect. Its prognosis is governed not so much by bacterial resistance or haemodynamic repercussions as by the risk of septic pulmonary embolism or systemic embolism. Prophylaxis is essential to avoid this dangerous complication.