What causes inflammation in endocarditis?

Inflammation in endocarditis is primarily caused by bacterial or fungal infections. Endocarditis occurs when these pathogens enter the bloodstream and adhere to the heart's inner lining or heart valves, leading to an inflammatory response. The infection triggers the body's immune system to respond, causing inflammation as it attempts to fight off the invading organisms. This process can result in the formation of vegetations—masses of microbes, inflammatory cells, and fibrin—on the heart valves, which can disrupt normal heart function.

Other causes such as viral infections, autoimmune disorders, or myocardial ischemia do not typically lead to the characteristic pathological changes seen in endocarditis. While these conditions can result in inflammation, they do not specifically involve the infection of the heart's inner surfaces as bacterial or fungal agents do. Therefore, the role of bacterial or fungal infections is central to the etiology of endocarditis and the inflammation that accompanies it.