Endocarditis is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium).
Endocarditis can cause the heart valves to be damaged, & the
surface of the valves can become thickened or develop wart-like
growths.
These growths are called Libman-Sacks.
Libman-Sacks endocarditis is often associated with antiphospholipid
antibodies.
The growths can cause heart murmurs, but rarely affect the function
of the valves.