A Histological Assessment of the Incidence of Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy in Subjects with Alcohol Associated Liver Disease

ABSTRACT

The interrelationship of alcohol associated liver disease and alcohol induced myocardial damage is discussed. The purpose of the study is to establish reasonable histological criteria for the detection of alcoholic cardiomyopathy in cases of medicolegal investigation. Tissues from cases of sudden death with and without liver disease and with and without a recorded history of alcohol abuse were examined and a microscopic scoring system was devised for the recognition of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. A clear distinction was found between those cases with and those without evidence of liver disease, and while no correlation was established between the severity of liver disease and cardiomyopathy scoring, the authors consider that their scoring system allows for the reliable recognition of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. It is concluded that alcoholic cardiomyopathy should be considered as a possible cause for sudden incapacitation or death in any medicolegal death investigation in which either a history of alcohol abuse or alcohol associated liver disease is found at post mortem examination.