Lower leg weakness as the presentation of infective endocarditis with septic emboli

Am J Emerg Med. 2014 Feb;32(2):191.e5-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2013.08.048. Epub 2013 Sep 27.

Abstract

Lower leg weakness is a common and nonspecific complaint that encompasses a broad differential diagnosis at emergency department, which includes neurologic aspect and a wide range of nonneurologic conditions. Infective endocarditis usually presented with variable symptoms emphasizing constitutional complaints, or complaints that focus on primary cardiac effects or secondary embolic phenomena. Underdiagnosis of the disease can lead to clinical catastrophe and even death. By far, it is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of lower leg weakness. Herein, we present a case of a 56-year-old man who came to our emergency department with a chief concern of lower leg weakness, which was actually the result of L-spine osteomyelitis and spondylodiscitis as complications of infective endocarditis with septic emboli.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Back Pain / etiology
  • Discitis / complications
  • Discitis / etiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Embolism / complications*
  • Embolism / microbiology
  • Endocarditis / complications*
  • Endocarditis / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Leg*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Weakness / etiology*
  • Osteomyelitis / complications
  • Osteomyelitis / etiology
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Effusion / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed