Anterolateral Papillary Muscle Rupture Caused by Brucella Endocarditis

Introduction: Brucellosis is a common zoonosis in Iran, transmitted to humans by direct contact with infected animal materials like fleece, animal excrement, leather, butchery or by the consumption of contaminated animal products (e.g. fresh cheese, unpasteurized milk or dairy products, and raw meat and raw liver that is consumed semi-roasted by kebab sellers in Iran. Case Presentation: A 21-year-old woman presented with respiratory failure due to pulmonary edema from severe acute mitral valve regurgitation in the setting of acute Brucella endocarditis. She was found to have a ruptured anterolateral papillary muscle from necrosis caused by corroding large vegetations on the anterior mitral valve leaflet. Conclusions: This occurrence is an exceptionally rare phenomenon, in Brucella mitral endocarditis. Urgent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed large mobile vegetation on the anterior papillary muscle with severe mitral valve regurgitation. The patient underwent mitral valve replacement. During valve replacement surgery, anterior mitral valve vegetation and rupture of the AL-PM were confirmed. We also considered that prolonged post-operative antibiotic treatment was indicated in our patient to protect the newly implanted prosthetic valves.