Sudden unexpected death resulting from an anomalous hypoplastic left coronary artery. 1998

S E McConnell, and K A Collins
Department of Pathology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.

We present a case of sudden death in a 24-year-old, healthy white female who was physically active and participated in sports, including soccer. Two weeks prior to her death, an insurance physical examination revealed an abnormal electrocardiogram which demonstrated flipped T waves in the anterior leads. There was no other remarkable medical history. At autopsy, only one coronary ostium was demonstrated and it originated from the right aortic sinus. Approximately 0.8 cm from this right coronary artery (RCA) ostium, a left coronary artery (LCA) branched off the RCA at a 90-degree angle. The LCA had luminal diameter of 0.4 m but the LCA had a luminal diameter of only 0.1 cm. The LCA coursed anterior to the base of the pulmonary artery and down the anterior ventricular septum reflecting the usual course of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The LCA and RCA paths appeared to merge or terminate at the anterior left ventricular myocardium which was discolored gray, a process that involved the inner and middle thirds of the myocardium. Based on the autopsy findings, we certified the cause of death as a probable arrhythmia due to myocardial fibrosis and dystrophic calcification resulting from complications of an anomalous hypoplastic left coronary artery. Anomalies of coronary arteries have been classified and studied at autopsy and by clinical angiography. Coronary artery anomalies can be divided into minor and major forms with major anomalies often resulting in cardiac dysfunction that may cause failure and death. Minor anomalies, in general, have no pathophysiological significance and are compatible with life. Minor anomalies include variations in number and location of coronary ostia. A single coronary ostia is exceedingly rare in hearts with no other congenital malformations. The prognostic significance can be unpredictable. A single coronary artery has the potential to be dangerous if obstructed at its main stem, or if it branches at an acute angle. Additionally, hypoplasia of one or more coronary arteries has been found to be associated with sudden death.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009206 Myocardium The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow. Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D002423 Cause of Death Factors which produce cessation of all vital bodily functions. They can be analyzed from an epidemiologic viewpoint. Causes of Death,Death Cause,Death Causes
D003330 Coronary Vessel Anomalies Malformations of CORONARY VESSELS, either arteries or veins. Included are anomalous origins of coronary arteries; ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA; CORONARY ANEURYSM; MYOCARDIAL BRIDGING; and others. Anomaly, Coronary Vessel,Coronary Vessel Anomaly
D003331 Coronary Vessels The veins and arteries of the HEART. Coronary Arteries,Sinus Node Artery,Coronary Veins,Arteries, Coronary,Arteries, Sinus Node,Artery, Coronary,Artery, Sinus Node,Coronary Artery,Coronary Vein,Coronary Vessel,Sinus Node Arteries,Vein, Coronary,Veins, Coronary,Vessel, Coronary,Vessels, Coronary
D003645 Death, Sudden The abrupt cessation of all vital bodily functions, manifested by the permanent loss of total cerebral, respiratory, and cardiovascular functions. Sudden Death
D004562 Electrocardiography Recording of the moment-to-moment electromotive forces of the HEART as projected onto various sites on the body's surface, delineated as a scalar function of time. The recording is monitored by a tracing on slow moving chart paper or by observing it on a cardioscope, which is a CATHODE RAY TUBE DISPLAY. 12-Lead ECG,12-Lead EKG,12-Lead Electrocardiography,Cardiography,ECG,EKG,Electrocardiogram,Electrocardiograph,12 Lead ECG,12 Lead EKG,12 Lead Electrocardiography,12-Lead ECGs,12-Lead EKGs,12-Lead Electrocardiographies,Cardiographies,ECG, 12-Lead,EKG, 12-Lead,Electrocardiograms,Electrocardiographies, 12-Lead,Electrocardiographs,Electrocardiography, 12-Lead
D005260 Female Females
D005355 Fibrosis Any pathological condition where fibrous connective tissue invades any organ, usually as a consequence of inflammation or other injury. Cirrhosis,Fibroses
D005554 Forensic Medicine The application of medical knowledge to questions of law. Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D006352 Heart Ventricles The lower right and left chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps venous BLOOD into the LUNGS and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic arterial circulation. Cardiac Ventricle,Cardiac Ventricles,Heart Ventricle,Left Ventricle,Right Ventricle,Left Ventricles,Right Ventricles,Ventricle, Cardiac,Ventricle, Heart,Ventricle, Left,Ventricle, Right,Ventricles, Cardiac,Ventricles, Heart,Ventricles, Left,Ventricles, Right

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