Copyright © 1995 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1995 The European Society of Cardiology
Q fever endocarditis
Faculte de Medicine, Unité des Rickettsies, Marseilles France
Correspondence: D. Raoult, Faculte de Medecine, Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS EP J 0054, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France.
Q fever is a widespread disease caused by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular bacteria which man usually acquires through the inhalation of infected dust from subclinically infected animals. Q fever may be acute or chronic. The chronic form mostly presents as endocarditis, which is difficult to diagnose and may ultimately be fatal Immunocompromised conditions and underlying heart disease are the most important risk factors to consider in cases of Q fever endocarditis. The ultimate diagnosis is based on specific diagnostic tests which include serology, demonstration of C. burnetii in valvular material, isolation of C. burnetii from blood and tissue samples by cell-culture techniques as well as amplification and detection of the bacterial DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Treatment of chronic Q fever endocarditis is complex and requires long-term antibiotic therapy, sometimes associated with heart valve replacement. At the present time neither an optimal antibiotic combination nor the duration of treatment is known and patients with Q fever endocarditis require prolonged follow-up because of the possibility of later relapses.
Key Words: Chronic Q fever • chronic endocarditis • Coxiella burnetii
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  W. Soesanto, H.-y. Lin, E. Hu, S. Lefler, S. E. Litwin, S. Sena, E. D. Abel, J. D. Symons, and T. Jalili Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Is a Critical Regulator of Cardiac Hypertrophy in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Hypertension, December 1, 2009; 54(6): 1321 - 1327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Chen, D. J. Glenn, W. Ni, C. L. Grigsby, K. Olsen, M. Nishimoto, C. S. Law, and D. G. Gardner Expression of the Vitamin D Receptor Is Increased in the Hypertrophic Heart Hypertension, December 1, 2008; 52(6): 1106 - 1112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. L. Scragg, M. L. Dallas, J. A. Wilkinson, G. Varadi, and C. Peers Carbon Monoxide Inhibits L-type Ca2+ Channels via Redox Modulation of Key Cysteine Residues by Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species J. Biol. Chem., September 5, 2008; 283(36): 24412 - 24419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. J. Zoghbi, T. A. Dorfman, and A. E. Iskandrian The Effects of Medications on Myocardial Perfusion J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 5, 2008; 52(6): 401 - 416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Ikeda, K.-i. Aihara, T. Sato, M. Akaike, M. Yoshizumi, Y. Suzaki, Y. Izawa, M. Fujimura, S. Hashizume, M. Kato, et al. Androgen Receptor Gene Knockout Male Mice Exhibit Impaired Cardiac Growth and Exacerbation of Angiotensin II-induced Cardiac Fibrosis J. Biol. Chem., August 19, 2005; 280(33): 29661 - 29666. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Schroen, S. Heymans, U. Sharma, W. M. Blankesteijn, S. Pokharel, J. P.M. Cleutjens, J. G. Porter, C. T.A. Evelo, R. Duisters, R. E.W. van Leeuwen, et al. Thrombospondin-2 Is Essential for Myocardial Matrix Integrity: Increased Expression Identifies Failure-Prone Cardiac Hypertrophy Circ. Res., September 3, 2004; 95(5): 515 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. J. Pepine, E. M. Handberg, R. M. Cooper-DeHoff, R. G. Marks, P. Kowey, F. H. Messerli, G. Mancia, J. L. Cangiano, D. Garcia-Barreto, M. Keltai, et al. A Calcium Antagonist vs a Non-Calcium Antagonist Hypertension Treatment Strategy for Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: The International Verapamil-Trandolapril Study (INVEST): A Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA, December 3, 2003; 290(21): 2805 - 2816. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. H. Cingolani, X.-P. Yang, M. A. Cavasin, and O. A. Carretero Increased Systolic Performance With Diastolic Dysfunction in Adult Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Hypertension, February 1, 2003; 41(2): 249 - 254. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. F.M van den Heuvel, J. J Bax, P. K Blanksma, W. Vaalburg, H. J.G.M Crijns, and D. J van Veldhuisen Abnormalities in myocardial contractility, metabolism and perfusion reserve in non-stenotic coronary segments in heart failure patients Cardiovasc Res, July 1, 2002; 55(1): 97 - 103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. J. Pepine, E. Handberg-Thurmond, R. G. Marks, M. Conlon, R. Cooper-Dehoff, P. Volkers, P. Zellig, and for The INVEST Investigators Rationale and design of the International Verapamil SR/Trandolapril Study (INVEST): an Internet-based randomized trial in coronary artery disease patients with hypertension J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 1, 1998; 32(5): 1228 - 1237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|