An autofluorescence method for the diagnosis of early ischaemic myocardial lesions. A systematic study on 732 autopsies, including 182 cases of sudden death.

A systematic study of an autofluorescence method is described to improve the early histological diagnosis of myocardial ischaemia. Our results on 732 autopsy cases including 182 cases of sudden death show that the autofluorescence examination of haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of the myocardium is not only reliable in the identification of recent ischaemic lesions, but contributes to a better histological evaluation. In 24 cases undetected by white light examination it allowed recognition of ischaemic lesions.