Sudden Cardiac Death from Coronary Arteriosclerosis and Coronary Artery Aneurysm in Childhood: An Autopsy Case

Abstract

Coronary artery disease in childhood is rare. However, coronary arteriosclerosis and coronary artery aneurysm may occur in childhood as congenital malformations, or as complications of vasculitis, other connective tissue disorders, and infections. Coronary arteriosclerosis and coronary artery aneurysm may manifest in varied ways, including silent ischemia, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. In this report, we present a rare case of sudden death in 5-year-old child. Autopsy examination showed coronary arteriosclerosis and coronary artery aneurysm with myocardial fibrosis of the septal wall. Pathologic examination showed near total occlusion of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery and the aneurysm, with fibrosis and calcification of the right coronary artery.