Sudden unexpected death in young athletes.
A 13-year-old white boy died suddenly and unexpectedly while playing soccer. This case acquires a unique interest because of the coincidence of sudden unexpected death in a 13-year-old boy, anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right aortic sinus of Valsalva, anomalous location of the right coronary ostium within proper aortic sinus of Valsalva, hyperacute myocardial infarction, and myocardial fibrosis. The authors are convinced that the cardiovascular evaluation of young athletes needs to be focused on the identification of individuals at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest, paying attention to suggestive symptoms and to a family history of sudden death due to cardiac arrest, particularly at an early age. In addition, enquiry should be made into the concomitant presence of a smoking habit or of passive smoke exposure.
Ottaviani
Giulia
G
"Lino Rossi" Research Center, and daggerInstitute of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University of Milan, Italy. giulia.ottaviani@unimi.it
Lavezzi
Anna Maria
AM
Matturri
Luigi
L
D000293:Adolescent; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000473:pathology*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000002:abnormalities*; D012916:Soccer; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution