[Features of myocardial infarction in chronic bronchitis patients]

On the basis of a morphological examination of the heart and lungs at 337 autopsies of patients who had died of acute primary myocardial infarction, 108 cases were specified where myocardial infarction was related to a 3-10 year old history of chronic bronchitis. With regard to the bronchopulmonary system, autopsy findings in this series revealed manifestations of bronchitis, pneumosclerosis and emphysema. The myocardial infarction was underlied by stenosing coronary atherosclerosis (89%) in conjunction with thrombosis (76%). A conclusion is drawn as to a more severe course of myocardial infarction in chronic bronchitis patients.