Cardiac infarction in the Bantu*

Abstract

1. (1) Cardiac infarction in the Bantu is exceedingly rare. During the six-year period, 1952-1957, only three cases of cardiac infarction were proven at autopsy at the department of pathology and in the Groote Schuur Hospital. 2. (2) Of these cases, only one was associated with extensive atheroma, the pathological findings being identical with those encountered in the European. 3. (3) One case was shown to be associated with severe hypertension but with no atheroma of the coronary vessels. The other occurred in the presence of syphilitic aortic incompetence and syphilitic aortitis but without any involvement of the coronary ostial or coronary vessels. The infarctions in these two cases were attributed to coronary insufficiency, due to an inadequate coronary supply to a greatly hypertrophied heart muscle. 4. (4) The rarity of atheroma in the Bantu is discussed, the cause of which is unknown. © 1958.