| Myocytolysis | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Cardiology |
Myocytolysis refers to a state of significant damage tocardiac myocytes, muscle cells of the heart, caused by myocardial strain. It was first described in medical literature by Schlesinger and Reiner in 1955.[1] It is considered a type of cellularnecrosis.[1] Two types of myocytolysis have been defined: coagulative and colliquative.[1][2][3]
Coagulative myocytolysis appears in themyocardium near areas ofcoagulative necrosis or areas affected bymyocardial infarction.[2] This phenomenon tends to occur when neighboringcardiac muscle loses its ability to contract (i.e. inischemia orinfarction).[2] The remaining viable muscles, as the result, strain to compensate for the loss of other muscles in order to deliver the necessarycardiac output. During the process, myocardial cells are stretched and stressed to produce newcontractile elements.[4]
In colliquative myocytolysis, fluids accumulatedwithin the cell dissolvemyofibrils, resulting invacuolization of the cell.[1][2][5] It is considered an indicator ofacute myocardial ischemia and can be used to confirm ischemia in the absence of other indicators of cause of death.[5]