CRP and heart failure: These predictors can be related to intrinsic features of the agent (S. aureus infections), clinical complications (peri-annular abscess, severe heart failure - NYHA class III/IV - related to prosthetic valve dysfunction), laboratorial features (high leukocyte count and C-reactive protein levels), patient profile (older age, previous combined valve replacement surgery with myocardial revascularization, left ventricular dysfunction) and aortic prostheses involvement.