[Myocardial morphometric study in protein-energy malnourished adults].
OBJECTIVE
To compare cardiac muscle cells width and cardiomyocyte lipofuscin pigment presence between malnourished and non-malnourished necropsied adults.


METHODS
Out of 315 necropsy protocols of adults randomly chosen, those with edema, ascitis, systemic arterial hypertension, chronic liver disease, and heart disease were excluded. Malnutrition was defined by body mass index (BMI) < 17 kg/m2. Cardiomyocytes morphometry study and lipofuscin pigment counts were performed.


RESULTS
Malnourished (n = 8) and controls (n = 4), respectively, showed statistical differences in relation to BMI (14.86 +/- 1.13 vs 22.02 +/- 0.9 kg/m2), heart weight/body weight ratio (0.68 +/- 0.09 vs 0.54 +/- 0.07%), cardiomyocytes width (10.91 +/- 0.77 vs 12.90 +/- 1.82 microns) and lipofuscin pigment presence (39.1 vs 54.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
When compared with controls, necropsied malnourished adults showed decreased myocardial fibers diameters and lower lipofuscin pigment presence. These findings might reflect altered metabolism, and would be associated with harmful clinical effects in terminally ill patients.
da Cunha
D F
DF
Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro (FMTM), Uberaba.
Pedrini
C H
CH
Sousa
J C
JC
dos Reis
M A
MA
Ramos
S G
SG
da Cunha
S F
SF
Teixeira
V de P
Vde P
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*
D008062:Lipofuscin