Comparing The Diagnostic Value Of The Chinese Criteria And The Duke Criteria For Infective Endocarditis In Medical Practice.

Objective : The aim of our study was to compare the value of the China's diagnostic criteria and the Duke diagnostic criteria for infective endocarditis (IE) in medical practice.Methods: We determined the sensitivity predictive value of these two sets of diagnostic criteria in 65 patients with established infective endocarditis who were operated in our hospital.Results: The patients essentially had underlying heart disease(93.8%). Microbial documentation included mainly gram-positive cocci (24.6%). With transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), the sensitivities of the China's diagnostic criteria and the Duke criteria were 63.1% and 23.1%, respectively,Conclusions: Spectrum of IE in our country is different from the west, but quite similar as reported from developed countries about 40 years ago. It occurs in relatively younger population. RHD is the commonest underlying heart disease. IE in degenerative heart disease and intravenous drug abusers is uncommonly seen. Streptococci are still the commonest microorganisms responsible for IE. This study confirms that the China's diagnostic criteria are more useful in practice for the management of patients with infective endocarditis followed in medical practice.