Question

A patient with a history of mitral valve prolapsed presents to the echocardiography laboratory with the complaints of fever, night sweats, and weight loss. The most likely explanation is:

A. Congestive heart failure
B. Coronary artery disease
C. Infective endocarditis
D. Kawasaki disease

Answer 1

A patient with mitral valve prolapse presenting with fever, night sweats, and weight loss is likely suffering from infective endocarditis, a condition where bacteria infect heart valve tissues.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with a history of mitral valve prolapse who presents with fever, night sweats, and weight loss most likely has infective endocarditis. A mitral valve prolapse can predispose patients to this condition because the abnormal movement of the valve may cause an irregular blood flow, creating a situation in which bacteria can easily adhere and proliferate on the valve leaflets, leading to infection. Symptoms such as fever and night sweats along with mitral valve abnormalities can be key indicators of infective endocarditis, a serious condition where bacteria infect the endocardium, usually involving the heart valves. Patents experiencing such symptoms should seek medical attention promptly for evaluation and treatment to prevent complications like severe valve damage or congestive heart failure.