[Damage to the contractile myocardium in disorders of lymph drainage (experimental-morphologic findings)]

The role of the lymphatic system of the heart in the development of cardiosclerosis was studied in experiments in 43 adult dogs. An important influence of lymphogenic edema as an agent favouring the damaging of the myocardial parenchyma was established. Micronecroses occurring throughout the contractile myocardium stimulate a continuous substitution of the elements of the damaged parenchyma by the pre-existing or newly formed stroma. Proceeding from personal and literature data on the frequent involvement of the lymphatic system of the heart into its pathological processes it is suggested that the lymph directly participates in the development of the functional incompetence of the organ.