Acute rheumatic carditis causing sudden death.

An 18-year-old male died suddenly while running a confidence course in basic training. Past medical history was negative for acute rheumatic fever. At autopsy he had acute rheumatic mitral valvulitis with extensive myocarditis. Multiple Aschoff bodies were seen in perivascular regions in the right and left ventricle. Review of recent literature of the various causes of sudden cardiac death failed to reveal acute rheumatic valvulitis and myocarditis as reported causes of sudden death.