Libman-Sacks endocarditis is characterized by sterile verrucous vegetations on BOTH surfaces of the mitral valve leaflets. This finding is MOST specifically associated with which condition?

• A Rheumatic fever — pancarditis with mitral stenosis
• B Infective endocarditis due to HACEK group organisms
• C Systemic lupus erythematosus — antiphospholipid antibody-mediated ✓
• D Carcinoid heart disease — right-sided valvular lesions from serotonin

Explanation

Libman-Sacks endocarditis is a nonbacterial, immune complex-mediated endocarditis pathognomonic for SLE, strongly associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Vegetations are small, sterile, and occur on both the atrial and ventricular surfaces of the mitral (and occasionally aortic) valve leaflets — the 'both surfaces' involvement distinguishes it from rheumatic vegetations which appear only on the line of closure. It can cause valve regurgitation and serves as a nidus for infective endocarditis.

Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.