Having a BIG HEART is not a Blissful Bequest! – An autopsy case report of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

As in common saying, ‘having a Big heart is great characteristic for a humble man’, but in medical field, if a patient has a ‘big heart’, i.e. cardiomegaly, is a great problem especially in young age. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is an autosomal dominant genetic disease of the heart causing significant number of sudden death in young adults without any warning symptoms or signs. Most of cases are diagnosed during postmortem examinations only. We encountered with such a case of sudden death due to Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with Ischemic Heart Disease in a young and otherwise healthy adult. To analyze the case as forensic point of view and to discuss genetic basis and roll of genetic test as preventive measure.Autopsy was conducted as per standard autopsy protocol. Histopathological examination was done by using Gram’s Stain and Masson Trichrome Stain.Heart of diseased showed uneven hypertrophy of both ventricles and interventricular septum. Coronary arteries showed grade V atherosclerosis.Final cause of death was given as “Cardiogenic Shock due to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Ischemic heart disease”.