[Histoenzymologic characteristics of the myocardium in sudden death in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy].

Study of the activity of some myocardial enzymes in sudden death cases with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACMP) was made by quantitative histochemical methods. The decrease of dehydrogenase activity of succinate, lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, alpha-glycerophosphate and NAD-diaphorase was found in line with the increase of the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase and catalase versus control (myocardium of those who died of trauma). Disorders of major metabolic processes in the myocardium may occasionally lead to electrical instability resulting in ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. In almost 80% of sudden cardiac deaths in ACMP foci of acute myocardial ischemia are found, that can lead to ventricular fibrillation with lethal outcome.