Neurological complications of infective endocarditis.

We reviewed the files of 80 successive patients with native and prosthetic valve endocarditis admitted to Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital. Neurological complications (NC) occurred in 28 (35%) patients. The valves involved were mitral in 12 (43%), aortic in eight (29%), combined mitral and aortic lesions in six (21%), and others in two (7%). The common causative organisms were Stretococci in 12 (43%), Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermides, both occuring in four (14%). Compared to the 52 infective endocarditis patients with no neurological complications (NNC), the NC occurred more frequently in male patients, those with aortic valve lesion, those with atrial fibrillation, those with delayed therapy and those with causative organisms being Streptococci or Staphylococci. Eleven patients died (39%), 12 (43%) recovered with motor sequelae, six (21%) had seizure disorder, and five (18%) had full recovery. The frequency of neurological complications and mortality is comparable to those reported in the literaturel; however, the frequency of strokes was higher in our patients.