lupus erythematosus ) or caused by infection , usually at the heart valves.
Severe bacterial infection causes an acute form with fever, sweating, chills, joint pain and swelling, and {{link=embolism">embolisms . Subacute endocarditis usually comes from bacteria that do not ordinarily cause disease. Bacterial endocarditis is usually treated with long-term antibiotics. In nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, blood clots form along heart valve edges.