[Sudden death of a 16-year-old girl with WPW syndrome: a case report]

Arch Kriminol. 2015 Mar-Apr;235(3-4):110-6.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a usually benign heart disease with accessory pathways. Circling excitations arise between atria and ventricles which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. Cases of sudden cardiac death are rare (0.2 %). Risk factors for sudden cardiac death in patients with WPW syndrome are old age, several accessory pathways, male sex and previous syncopes. A 16-year-old girl was found lying dead in her bed. The evening before, she didn't feel well and complained about abdominal pain. The girl had known epilepsy and Wolff- Parkinson-White syndrome. The macroscopic and histological findings are presented and discussed with reference to the pertinent literature.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autopsy
  • Cause of Death
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Expert Testimony / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / pathology*