The clinicopathological implication of myocytes with contraction bands in autopsy hearts. Quantitative analysis of myocytes with contraction bands in autopsy hearts.
To define the normal extent of myocytes with contraction bands, 51 adult autopsied hearts including 30 normal and 21 common hypertrophic hearts were studied. Based on the histologic features, contraction bands were divided into mild and severe types. They were found in 48 and 32 of the total 51 cases, respectively. However, in five hearts, myocytes with contraction bands were more diffused or localized in one part of the ventricular wall. There were no special different treatments before death among the five cases or others. They seemed however to correlate with sudden death or acute cerebral damages. Therefore, reperfusion injury and metabolic cell injuries were considered. If these 5 cases were excluded, the normal extend of myocytes with contraction bands was considered as less than a 1.7% area in the mild type and a 0.5% area in the severe type found in the ventricular wall. These mild and severe contraction bands were considered related to autolysis or events occurring before death.
Wu
D J
DJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Shan Medical and Dental College, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Kao
T C
TC
Fujiwara
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values