[A histochemical study of enzyme activity in the myocardium of victims of sudden death with small-focal cardiosclerosis].

On the material of early autopsies of the above patients the activity of the following myocardial enzymes was undergone the quantitative histochemical study: succinate, lactate, (beta-oxybutyrate, d-glycerophosphate, glucose 6-phosphate and alcohol dehydrogenase, NAD-diaphorase, catalase, phosphorylase. The increase of the activity of practically all enzymes studied was observed in the myocardial areas with no circulation disturbances. This increase was due to the moderate myocardial hypertrophy. On the contrary, in the areas with a non-even blood supply (ischemia) the decrease of the activity of all oxidative-reductive enzymes was observed. The presence of such foci in the myocardium which occur in 70% cases studied facilitates the development of the ventricular fibrillation with a fatal outcome. The enzyme depression is particularly pronounced against the background of a high alcoholic content.