investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
- blood cultures
- echocardiography, cardiac doppler, transoesophageal doppler
- urine - microscopic haematuria and proteinuria are common
- blood:
- normochromic, normocytic anaemia is usual; rarely, a haemolytic anaemia with positive Coomb's test
- leukocytosis is common and occasionally, thrombocytopenia
- liver function tests may show increased serum alkaline phosphatase
- CRP and ESR are usually raised
- chest radiology may reveal heart failure or emboli in right sided endocarditis
- ECG may reveal myocardial infarction due to emboli
- serum immunoglobulins are increased but total complement and C3 complement are decreased.
Reff: Wallach. (1991). Interpretation of Diagnostic tests. Little, Brown.
echocardiography in infective endocarditis