Austrian Syndrome Associated with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Child

摘要

To the Editor: In 1957, an Amer-ican internist reported the preference of Streptococcus pneumoniae for the aortic valve and its frequent associa-tion with meningitis and pneumonia (1), an association now known as Aus-trian syndrome. This syndrome main-ly occurs in middle-age men who have predisposing factors, such as chronic alcoholism, altered immune state, du-ral fi stula, and ear or sinus infections. One case of Austrian syndrome has been reported in the pediatric age group, in a 7-year-old girl in whom aortic valve endocarditis developed after pneumococcal meningitis infec-tion (2). In pneumococcal endocardi-tis, the native aortic valve is the most frequent location of vegetation. Valve replacement must be considered to avoid development of cardiogenic shock, whereas medical treatment alone may be adequate in some cases of mitral endocarditis (3,4). We report a previously healthy adolescent with Austrian syndrome associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection. Cardiac involvement resulted in extensive mitral valve de-struction requiring surgical valve re-placement