Question

A 47-year-old patient with severe hypertension dies after stepping in front of a bus. Autopsy of his myocardium shows evidence of which:

Option 1: Hypertrophy of myocytes.
Option 2: Myocardial infarction.
Option 3: Amyloidosis.
Option 4: Dilated cardiomyopathy.

Answer 1

Autopsy of a hypertensive patient's myocardium is likely to show hypertrophy of myocytes due to the heightened workload on the heart caused by high blood pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The autopsy of a 47-year-old patient with severe hypertension who died after stepping in front of a bus is likely to show evidence of hypertrophy of myocytes. This condition is associated with hypertension, which forces the heart to pump harder and can cause the heart muscle, or myocardium, to thicken over time - a response known as hypertrophy. Therefore, option 1, hypertrophy of myocytes, is the most fitting answer given the patient's known condition of severe hypertension. Other options like myocardial infarction, amyloidosis, and dilated cardiomyopathy are possible findings in a heart autopsy but are not directly linked to hypertension as hypertrophy of myocytes is.