CORONARY-ARTERY THROMBOEMBOLISM AND UNEXPECTED DEATH IN CHILDHOOD ANDADOLESCENCE

Two cases of unexpected death in childhood and adolescence associated with coronary artery thromboembolism are reported involving a 6-year-o ld girl with acute rheumatic fever and left ventricular vegetations, a nd an 18-year-old adolescent with Down syndrome and congenital heart d isease. Although coronary artery thromboembolism is rarely reported in childhood or adolescence, these cases demonstrate that careful examin ation of the coronary arteries during pediatric autopsy may be helpful in determining factors contributing to death, even at quite young age s. This is particularly so in the presence of predisposing cardiac pat hology.