Human stress cardiomyopathy: Myocardial lesions in victims of homicidal assaults without internal injuries

摘要: Abstract In order to clarify the relationship between stress and sudden death, we reviewed homicidal assaults that occurred in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (metropolitan Cleveland), over preceding 30 years. Specifically, attention was focused on autopsy investigative findings relating victims who died as a direct result of physical assault without sustaining internal injuries. Fifteen such were identified, 11 them showed cardiac changes (myofibrillar degeneration) consistent with "stress cardiomyopathy", comparable lesions described stressed animal experiments. Age matched disease control subjects little or no evidence changes. Two survived for time hospital, suffered arrhythmias throughout hospital course, had at autopsy. We interpret our data being strongly supportive theory catecholamine mediation these myocardial man lethal potential through its effect heart.