[Sudden death from coronary disease in younger women (author's transl)]

Eleven sudden deaths from coronary disease were studied in women aged 29--44 years. These cases occured between 1971 and 1976 in the Institute for Forensic Medicine, University of Cologne, BRD. Postmortal morphological examinations resulted excessive stenosed coronary arteries caused by arteriosclerosis in all cases, in eight combined with acute obstructing thrombus. Our study group is not representative of the incidence of fatal coronary disease in the community. The prevailing conclusions about influence of sex hormones from oral contraceptives upon the development of arteriosclerosis, hypercoagulability and thrombosis demonstrate contrary evaluation. Our reflections about aetiology and pathogenesis from the pathomorphological findings don't substantiate a proof correlation between coronary disease or coronary thrombosis and oral contraceptions. Many other factors are equal important. The opinion of increased incidence and risk for death from coronary disease in users of oral hormonal contraceptions is not evident for us.