SUDDEN-DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH MYXOMATOUS TRANSFORMATION OF THE MITRAL-VALVE IN AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY

An 8-year-old boy suffered a cardiac arrest while playing soccer. In c ontrast to a similar event at the age of 5 years, resuscitation was no t successful. At autopsy, the cardiac findings were of a myxomatous tr ansformation of the mitral valve with lacerations of the posterior cus p and the left vestibular endocardium and left ventricular hypertrophy . Sudden death due to arrhythmias in association with a myxomatous mit ral valve is a rare event with only about 100 cases published world-wi de. To our knowledge, the present case probably reports the youngest a ffected individual who died of this pathological condition.