Table 2 .

Proposed histological criteria for diagnosis of infective endocarditis

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

IE, infective endocarditis.

Reproduced from Lepidi et al¹⁰ with permission.