Sudden death in young competitive athletes: clinicopathologic correlations in 22 cases

摘要: Abstract purpose: To investigate the pathologic substrates of sudden death in young competitive athletes. patients and methods: Twenty-two cases athletes occurring Veneto region (northern Italy) period January 1979 to December 1989 were studied by postmortem examination. The included 19 males three females, ranging age from 11 35 years (mean, 23 years). results: In 18 cases, occurred during (16 cases) or immediately after (two a sport activity. 10 subjects, was apparently first sign disease. Postmortem examination disclosed that this fatality due arrhythmic cardiac arrest 17 cases; among these, right ventricular cardiomyopathy, also known as "right dysplasia," most frequently encountered cardiovascular disease (six cases), followed atherosclerotic coronary artery (four conduction system pathology (three anomalous origin wrong aortic sinus mitral valve prolapse cases). two athletes, abrupt lethal complication "mechanical" consisted pulmonary embolism rupture aorta; cerebral cause. All with cardiomyopathy died effort, had history palpitations and/or syncope. Whenever available, electrocardiographic (ECG) tracings showed inverted T waves precordial leads left bundle branch block arrhythmias. conclusions: Clinicopathologic correlations indicate Italy, is not so rare diseases associated risk arrest, seems account for majority athletes; disorder can be suspected life on basis prodromal symptoms ECG signs.