Sudden cardiac death and selective myocardial cell necrosis.

Sudden cardiac death is characterized by ventricular fibrillation. There is evidence that the pathologic lesion associated with sudden cardiac death is selective myocardial cell necrosis. This lesion can be induced experimentally in animals by the administration of catecholamines. A hypothetical association between the effect of catecholamines and ventricular fibrillation has been discussed.