Infective Endocarditis, Represented by a Large Mitral Valve Vegetation, Treated Homoeopathically: A Case Report

Abstract During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown in South Africa, the spouse of a 62-year-old male patient requested a homoeopathic intervention for a bacterial vegetation on the known grade II prolapse of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. Echocardiography showed an unchanged vegetation after three weeks of appropriate intravenous antibiotics. He self-discharged on May 10, 2020 and was readmitted to his preferred hospital on May 12, 2020 in preparation for mitral valve replacement. Potentized Arsenicum album (Ars) was employed to treat the endocarditis from May 08, 2020. This case report was prepared adhering to the CAse REport (CARE) Statement and Checklist and the Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH) Causal Attribution Inventory. Intravenous cefuroxime was commenced on April 17, 2020. After sensitivity results became known intravenous cefotaxime was commenced. On day 22 of intravenous antibiotics, May 08, 2020, Ars. 30cH was commenced. Five days later on day 26, May 12, 2020, a follow-up echocardiogram reported the absence of the vegetation, without symptoms and signs of infective embolization. Consequently, the mitral valve replacement was cancelled. The patient submitted two echocardiographic videos when he consulted the author in-person on May 19, 2020. The image depicted one large polyp-like vegetation, swinging in and out of the left atrium and ventricle. On auscultation, the first heart sound at the apex was absent, for which homoeopathic Naja tripudians (Naja) was dispensed. Six weeks later, the first heart sound returned, which seemed to imply a recovery of the mitral valve, as confirmed by the cardiologist. This case report seems to depict the clinical and biological effectiveness of Ars. and Naja in infective endocarditis. The patient has remained well since 2020.