[Sudden cardiac death and hypothalamo-hypophyseo-adrenal activity]

The paper presents current concepts on possible mechanisms of sudden heart death and on systems of neurohormonal heart regulation changes in which may cause sudden heart death. The importance of the main humoral and hormonal changes in possible disorders of electrolyte cardiac balance determining the development of electric instability and ventricle fibrillation underlying most cases of sudden heart death is described. Some morphological changes both in the heart itself and neurohormonal systems regulating it are dealt with.