Sudden Unexpected Death Due To Myocarditis In Young People, Including Athletes

The present study was performed to evaluate the extent to which sudden deaths in young active people and athletes are due to myocarditis by evaluating two large registries for cases of myocarditis to evaluate clinical, demographic, and pathologic findings. The analysis included a total of 97 cases of myocarditis (ages were 19.3 ± 6.2 years, 76% male, and 58 were physically active at or near the time of death). The outcomes demonstrated that the ACC/AHA consensus guidelines recommending removal of individuals with myocarditis from competitive sports during recovery. The results of this study exhibited that the selective examination of conduction systems exhibited a number of cases with involvement of myocarditis, implying a novel mechanism for sudden death. Almost one-half of the 97 cases (47%) had a viral prodrome or symptoms (i.e., syncope, malaise, chest pain or palpitations). Nine were evaluated by cardiologists, but in none was a diagnosis of myocarditis established before death. The inflammatory cellular infiltrate was predominantly lymphocytic (67%), was most frequently multifocal (59%) and involved the conduction system (including atrioventricular node), 38%.

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