Specialty rheumatology ICD-9-CM 710.0 eMedicine med/1295 | ICD-10 I39, M32.1 DiseasesDB 29254 MeSH D008180 | |
Libman–Sacks endocarditis (often misspelled Libmann-Sachs) is a form of nonbacterial endocarditis that is seen in association with systemic lupus erythematosus. It is one of the most common heart-related manifestations of lupus (the most common being inflammation of the fibrous sac surrounding the heart).
Contents
It was first described by Emanuel Libman and Benjamin Sacks at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in 1924. The association between Libman–Sacks endocarditis and antiphospholipid syndrome was first noted in 1985.
Presentation
The vegetations are small and formed from strands of fibrin, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and histiocytes. The mitral valve is typically affected, and the vegetations occur on the ventricular and atrial surface of the valve. Libman-Sacks lesions rarely produce significant valve dysfunction and the lesions only rarely embolize. However, there is data to suggest an association between Libman-Sacks endocarditis and a higher risk for embolic cerebrovascular disease in patients with SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus).
Pathology
The pathology is the same as nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis except focal necrosis with hematoxylin bodies can be found only in Libman–Sacks endocarditis.