Austrian's syndrome

 Q: What is Austrian's syndrome?

Answer: Although Austrian's syndrome was first described by Osler in 1881, it is named after Dr. Robert Austrian who described it in more methodological manner in 1957. Contrary to popular belief it has nothing to do with the country Austria.

It is a clinical triad consisting of 

•  pneumococcal endocarditis 
• meningitis
•  pneumonia 

The aortic valve is commonly and acutely involved, and interestingly infection occurs on a morphologically and functionally normal valve.

 Alcoholic patients are more prone to it. 

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References:

1. AUSTRIAN R. Pneumococcal endocarditis, meningitis, and rupture of the aortic valve. AMA Arch Intern Med 1957; 99:539. 

2. Gransden WR, Eykyn SJ, Phillips I. Pneumococcal bacteraemia: 325 episodes diagnosed at St Thomas's Hospital. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985; 290:505. 

3. Aronin SI, Mukherjee SK, West JC, Cooney EL. Review of pneumococcal endocarditis in adults in the penicillin era. Clin Infect Dis 1998; 26:165.