Key Points
- This research investigates whether cell death by apoptosis contributes to the loss of myocardial cells in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.
- Analyzed autopsy specimens from eight patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and four normal subjects.
- Performed in situ end-labeling of fragmented DNA to detect apoptosis in myocardial cells.
- Examined CPP-32 expression through immunohistochemical techniques.
- Apoptosis was found in six of the eight patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, while absent in controls.
- High expression levels of CPP-32 correlated with positive DNA fragment labeling.
Structured PICO
PPopulationAutopsy specimens from the right ventricular myocardium of 8 patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and 4 age-matched normal subjects.
CComparatorAutopsy specimens from 4 age-matched normal subjects.
OOutcomePresence of apoptosis (identified by in situ end-labeling of fragmented DNA) and expression of CPP-32.surrogate
Apoptosis is present in the right ventricular myocardium of patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and may contribute to progressive myocardial cell loss.