Contraction band necrosis
Contraction band necrosis is a type of uncontrolled cell death (necrosis) unique to cardiac myocytes and thought to arise in reperfusion from hypercontraction, which results in sarcolemmal rupture.[1]
It is a characteristic histologic finding of a recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) that was partially reperfused.
The name of the histopathologic finding comes from the appearance under the microscope; contraction bands are thick intensely eosinophilic staining bands (typically 4-5 micrometres wide) that span the short axis of the myocyte. They can be thought of extra thick striae, typical of cardiac muscle and striated muscle.
Pathophysiology[edit]
Contraction band necrosis is thought to arise by two mechanisms:[1]
- a calcium-dependent mechanism - activation of the contractile machinery of the cell via its usual mechanism, calcium, which is in excess due to ischemia.
- a calcium-independent mechanism, as seen in rigor mortis - activation of the contractile machinery in the setting of low ATP.
Reperfusion associated cell death has been modulated (reduced) in animal studies[2] and is an area of active research, which holds the potential to significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease.[1]
Additional images[edit]
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See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Rodríguez-Sinovas A, Abdallah Y, Piper HM, Garcia-Dorado D (December 2007). "Reperfusion injury as a therapeutic challenge in patients with acute myocardial infarction". Heart Fail Rev. 12 (3–4): 207–16. doi:10.1007/s10741-007-9039-9. PMID 17530396.
- ^ Garcia-Dorado D, Inserte J, Ruiz-Meana M, et al. (November 1997). "Gap junction uncoupler heptanol prevents cell-to-cell progression of hypercontracture and limits necrosis during myocardial reperfusion". Circulation. 96 (10): 3579–86. doi:10.1161/01.cir.96.10.3579. PMID 9396458.
External links[edit]
- Contraction band necrosis - pathologypics.com