Forensic science international
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The reports relating emotional stress to sudden death are largely anecdotal. In addition to experimental and electrophysiological studies, an opportunity for a better understanding of possible stress-related sudden death (SSD) may be provided by medicolegal autopsies. The goal of our autopsy study was to analyze cardiovascular pathologic findings in cases of SSD and if possible identify mechanisms by which the stressful event (SE) could be the cause. ⋯ A coronary artery thrombosis was found in 8 cases of sudden coronary death. Post myocardial infarction fibrosis was present in 25 cases (92%) of sudden coronary death. In conclusion, it appears from our autopsy study that SSD occurs primarily in those individuals with severe heart disease, especially coronary heart disease.