A patient with bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve may develop acute myocardial infarction by a number of mechanisms.
Mechanisms of acute myocardial infarction associated with aortic valve endocarditis:
(1) septic emboli
(2) compression of a coronary artery by a paravalvular abscess
(3) thrombosis of a coronary artery
(4) underlying coronary artery disease
A septic embolus can result in a mycotic aneurysm of the coronary artery.
The patient presents with signs of an acute myocardial infarction with changes in the ECG and serum troponin levels.
Imaging studies and angiography may be necessary to identify the underlying process.
