What is a common clinical feature of endocarditis?

Splenomegaly, or enlargement of the spleen, is a common clinical feature of endocarditis due to the involvement of the splenic vasculature by emboli that can stem from vegetations on heart valves. In the case of infectious endocarditis, bacteria or other infectious agents can enter the bloodstream and lead to the formation of vegetations on the heart valves. These vegetations can dislodge, traveling to various organs, including the spleen, where they can cause localized infection or an inflammatory response, resulting in splenomegaly.

While weight gain, headache, and skin rash might occasionally be associated with various conditions or complications related to infections, they are not classic or commonly observed features of endocarditis. Weight gain is more typically linked with heart failure or fluid retention rather than endocarditis itself. Headache may arise in the context of systemic infection but is not specific to endocarditis. Skin rashes can occur, such as those associated with embolic phenomena, but splenomegaly is a more direct and common finding related to the disease's mechanisms. Thus, splenomegaly serves as a prominent clue in the clinical diagnosis of endocarditis.