What laboratory finding is common in patients with infective endocarditis?

Infective endocarditis is characterized by the infection of the heart valves, which often leads to a systemic inflammatory response. One of the common laboratory findings in these patients is anemia. This occurs due to several mechanisms, including the chronic inflammation associated with the infection, leading to anemia of chronic disease. The presence of inflammation can affect erythropoiesis and lead to a decrease in red blood cell production, while also increasing the destruction or sequestration of red blood cells.

Anemia in infective endocarditis can also result from the destruction of red blood cells through immune-mediated mechanisms or from splenic sequestration as the body responds to infection. Moreover, patients may experience microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, particularly in the context of certain complications associated with endocarditis, such as embolization.

While other laboratory findings, such as leukocytosis, hyperkalemia, or hyponatremia, can be seen in some cases of endocarditis, they are not as consistently observed as anemia, making it the more common and notable laboratory finding in these patients.