Subacute bacterial endocarditis, abbreviated SBE, is a type of endocarditis (more specifically, infective endocarditis). Subacute bacterial endocarditis can be considered a form of type III hypersensitivity. Signs and symptoms
Among the signs of subacute bacterial endocarditis are:
Malaise
Weakness
Excessive sweat
Fever

Causes
It is usually caused by a form of Viridans group streptococcus bacteria that normally live in the mouth (Streptococcus mutans, mitis, sanguis or milleri).Other strains of streptococci can cause subacute endocarditis as well. These include streptococcus intermedius, which can cause
acute or subacute infection (about 15% of cases pertaining to infective endocarditis).Enterococci from urinary tract infections and coagulase negative staphylococci can also be causative agents. Mechanism
The mechanism of subacute bacterial endocarditis could be due to malformed stenotic valves which in the company of bacteremia, become infected, via adhesion and subsequent colonization of the surface area. This causes an inflammatory response, with recruitment of matrix metalloproteinases, and destruction of collagen.Underlying structural valve disease is usually present in patients before developing subacute endocarditis, and is less likely to lead to septic emboli than is acute endocarditis, but subacute endocarditis has a relatively slow process of infection and, if left untreated, can worsen for up to one year before it is fatal. In cases of subacute bacterial endocarditis, the causative organism (streptococcus viridans) needs a previous heart valve disease to colonize. On the other hand, in cases of acute bacterial endocarditis, the organism can colonize on the healthy heart valve, causing the disease.
This difference, and because the lumbar spines of the extinct Nacholapithecus (a Miocene hominoid with six lumbar vertebrae and no tail) are similar to those of early Australopithecus and early Homo, it is assumed that the Chimpanzee-human last common ancestor also had a long vertebral column with a long lumbar region and that the reduction in the number of lumbar vertebrae evolved independently in each ape clade. The limited number of lumbar vertebrae in chimpanzees and gorillas result in an inability to lordose (curve) their lumbar spines, in contrast to the spines of Old World monkeys and Nacholapithecus and Proconsul, which suggests that the last common ancestor was not "short-backed" as previously believed. Additional images
MRI
Illustrations
See also
Bertolottis syndrome
Spinal disc herniation
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Degenerative disc disease

References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 104 of the 20th edition of Grays Anatomy (1918)

External links

"Lower Back Pain Condition, Treatment and Exercise". SpineUniverse. Retrieved February 15, 2017. "Virtual Spine — Online Learning Resource". Toronto Western Hospital Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management. Retrieved February 15, 2017.