Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

What symptom is commonly observed in patients with acute endocarditis of the mitral valve?

1. Symptoms similar to heart failure

2. Severe chest pain mimicking STEMI

3. Claudication-type pain

4. Pain that is relieved by sitting up

The correct answer is: Symptoms similar to heart failure

Acute endocarditis, particularly affecting the mitral valve, often presents with symptoms that resemble heart failure due to the involvement of the heart's structure and function. Patients may experience signs of volume overload, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and peripheral edema, as the heart struggles to accommodate the increased workload and the development of valvular dysfunction. The infection can lead to complications like regurgitation, which further exacerbates heart failure symptoms. The other options center on symptoms that are less characteristic of mitral valve endocarditis. Severe chest pain that mimics an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) could occur due to other cardiac conditions but is not a defining symptom of acute endocarditis. Claudication-type pain typically pertains to peripheral artery disease rather than an infection of the heart valves. Pain relieved by sitting up is more commonly associated with conditions like pericarditis or pleuritis, rather than endocarditis involving the mitral valve. Therefore, the symptom most closely aligned with acute endocarditis of the mitral valve is indeed reflective of heart failure.