[Underlying cardiac disease in infective endocarditis].

Underlying cardiac lesions in 39 adult cases with infective endocarditis were studied. 18 cases (46%) of the patients had no evidence of preexisting cardiac disease and infection frequently involved aortic valve. The patients without preexisting cardiac disease and 4 patients with an intracardiac substitute including pacemaker lead and aortic valve prosthesis required a surgery during an active infective endocarditis. All cases of active infective endocarditis accompanied with rheumatic valvular disease underwent surgery after a suppression of active inflammation by medical treatment.