[Infective endocarditis in two Spanish university hospitals in different geographical locations with and without a cardiac surgery department].

Objectives: To assess possible differences in clinical presentation, microbiology, morbidity and mortality of infective endocarditis between two Spanish hospitals, one on the mainland that has cardiac surgery and one in the Canary Islands without this service.

Method: A total of 229patients consecutively diagnosed of endocarditis between 2005 and 2012, including pediatric population, were studied in the Reina Sofía Hospital (Córdoba, n=119) and Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Hospital (Tenerife, n=110). We compared the clinical, microbiological and echocardiographic data and analyzed mortality differences by binary logistic regression analysis.

[Valvular heart disease associated with ergotamine].

Ergotamine is used to abort or prevent migraine. The most common adverse reactions are nausea, vomiting, myalgia, diarrhea or mouth dryness, and the contraindications are peripheral vascular disease because of its vasospastic effect, and liver disease because the drug is metabolized in this organ. Its effects on the heart are less frequent and less well known.