Proposed histological criteria for diagnosis of infective endocarditis
| IE, infective endocarditis. | |
| Reproduced from Lepidi et al10 with permission. | |
| Major criteria | |
| Vegetation | |
| Active endocarditis, including inflammatory infiltrates with polymorphonuclear cells | |
| Microorganisms demonstrated in tissues by histology or immunohistology | |
| Minor criteria | |
| Mononuclear cell infiltrate (macrophages and lymphocytes) of the valve | |
| Necrosis | |
| Neovascularisation | |
| Fibrosis | |
| Calcification | |
| Definite IE: | 2 major or 1 major and 3 minor criteria |
| Possible IE: | 1 major and 2 minor criteria |
| Rejected IE: | No major criterion |