Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy: Report of an Autopsy Case.

Lee, Sang Yong; Lee, Joo Han; Seo, Joong Seok

Case Report

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2003;27(1):101-105.
Published online May 31, 2003.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy: Report of an Autopsy Case.

Sang Yong Lee, Joo Han Lee, Joong Seok Seo

National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea. isyme@nisi.go.kr

Abstract

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is characterized histologically by massive infilteration of right ventricular wall by fat tissue with surviving strands of cardiomyocytes bordered by or embedded in fibrosis. ARVC has been recognized as a cause of sudden death, especially in the young. We report an autopy case of ARVD/C in a 35-year-old female. She was found dead in her house under apparently natural circumstances. The autopsy revealed a dilated 340-gram heart with a fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium. On the review of her past medical history, she had taken medical examination for prolonged general weakness about 1 year prior to death. At that time the echocardiogram revealed dilatation of right ventricular cavity size and moderately decreased left ventricular systolic function, the electrocardiogram revealed R>S at V1 lead and T-wave inversion at V1-V3 leads. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second autopsy case of ARVD/C, reported in the literature of Korea.

Key Words: Right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, Sudden death