[Bacterial endocarditis and mitral valve prolapse].

The suspected diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis is based on a presumption. Over the last few years, ultrasound, which can identify valvular lesions and their repercussions, has established itself as a supplementary diagnostic tool in the early stages of this disease. The existence of false negatives should not be underestimated, but one must also be aware of the possibility of false positives. These false positives are mostly due to mitral valve prolapse. An unusual cas serves as an illustration of the potential diagnostic difficulties of this association and confirms the value of the ultrasound examination, provided it is performed under optimal conditions and repeatedly. However, the abnormalities of ventricular kinetics in the course of mitral valve prolapse limit the evaluation of the haemodynamic repercussions of the regurgitation. The authors stress the supplementary contribution of phonomechanographic examinations. In this particular case, they gave an idea of the severity of the mitral leak and of its recent onset and they strongly suggested the integrity of left ventricular function and the presence of major valvular dysplasia.