Copyright © 1996 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1996 The European Society of Cardiology
An increase in sudden unexpected cardiac deaths among young Swedish orienteers during 1979–1992
,
*Departments of infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Uppsala
Forensic Medicine Uppsala
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Gäavle Central Hospital Gäavle
Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital Uppsala
**Department of Pathology University of Århus Århus, Denmark
¶Virology unit, Swedish Institute of Infectious Disease Control Stockholm
||Section of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska institute Stockholm, Sweden
Received 17 July 1995; accepted 7 August 1995.
Correspondence: Professor G. Friman, MD, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University Hospital, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sixteen cases of sudden unexpected cardiac death, 15 males and one female, are known to have occurred among young Swedish orienteers from 1979 to 1992, of which seven cases occurred between 1989 and 1992. This is considered to be indicative of an increased death rate.
RESULTS: Histopathological evaluation showed myocarditis in a higher than expected proportion of cases. In one such case, which we studied before the sudden unexpected death occurred, the victim had suffered a Chlamydia pneumoniae infection verified by serology, and a nucleotide sequence was found in the heart and lung by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that hybndized with a probe specific for that organism. Male Swedish orienteers do not, however, seem to have an increased rate of exposure to this agent. No further sudden unexpected deaths among young orienteers have occurred over the past 3·5 years. At the beginning of that period, attempts were made to modify training habits and attitudes.
Key Words: Sudden unexpected death • athlete • myocarditis • arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia • Chiamydia pneumoniae
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