What is the risk of systemic embolization in patients with IE?
Systemic embolization occurs in 22% to 50% of cases of IE. Emboli often involve major arterial beds, including the brain, lungs, coronary arteries, spleen, bowel, and extremities. Up to 65% of embolic events involve the CNS, and >90% of CNS emboli lodge in the distribution of the middle cerebral artery. The highest incidence of embolic complications is seen with mitral valve IE (and more with anterior rather than posterior mitral leaflet involvement) and with IE caused by S aureus, Candida, and HACEK organisms.