Myocardial Infarction and Sudden Death

With substantial reductions in mortality among hospitalized coronary patients, the problem of sudden death looms ever larger. Thrombosis appears involved in only a minority of cases, but other pathophysiologic factors may be implicated, among them abnormal free fatty acid metabolism, arrhythmias, and microcirculatory compromise. Major stress is now being placed on identifying both epidemiologic and prodromal clues.