Sudden death of a carrier of X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE

To report a sudden death in a female carrier of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and to describe the cardiac abnormalities associated with this disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

A 45-year-old carrier who died suddenly and two affected men who also died of cardiac manifestations of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.

MEASUREMENTS

Post-mortem gross pathologic and histopathologic study of the heart.

RESULTS

All three hearts showed a unique pattern of pathologic findings. Marked loss of atrial myocardium had occurred. Myocardium had been replaced by adipose and fibrous tissue. The conduction system showed no significant abnormalities. Varying degrees of interstitial and replacement fibrosis were present in the ventricular myocardium.

CONCLUSIONS

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is associated with characteristic pathologic changes in the heart that can cause death in female carriers and affected men. Female carriers should be identified and evaluated because of the risk for sudden cardiac death.