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Collier had enlarged heart
Autopsy reveals no drugs or chemicals in late Hawks center's system
By MAE GENTRY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/01/05 Hawks center Jason Collier died last month of sudden cardiac rhythm disturbance caused by an enlarged heart, the state's chief medical examiner said Tuesday.
An autopsy showed that "his heart was definitely enlarged and abnormal," Dr. Kris Sperry said during a news conference at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation headquarters in DeKalb County.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--startclickprintinclude--><!--begintext-->There was no evidence of drugs or chemicals in Collier's system, he said.
Collier, who played collegiately at Georgia Tech, died Oct. 15 at the age of 28 after having trouble breathing while sleeping at his home near Lake Lanier.
Sperry said the 7-foot-tall, 260-pound basketball player's heart was 70 percent larger than average.
"For a man his size, 580 grams is the upper limits of normal," Sperry said.
Collier's heart weighed 640 grams, according to the medical examiner. He also had an abnormally structured mitral valve, Sperry said.
Sperry said detecting the heart problem would have been difficult because of Collier's size and the fact he was an athlete.
"Chest x-rays and echo cardiograms are accurate, but there is a limit as to what they can see," Sperry said.
"We have the unfortunate advantage of taking the heart out and weighing it," Sperry said.
However, Collier's medical records showed electrical abnormalities on "at least two" electrocardiograms, Sperry said.
"Looking at them now, and in retrospect in knowing what's going on with his heart, the abnormalities may have been associated with what we found in examining his heart," Sperry said.
"If it were me, I would have wanted more studies done to clarify what those abnormalities meant in light of the fact Jason was an athlete."
Sperry said that he had no evidence that Collier was informed there was anything wrong with his heart. Collier's wife said he had never been told of a reason for concern, according to Sperry.
Sperry did indicate that the family has concerns about the medical tests in 2003 and 2005 that showed abnormalities and "when we get all the findings back I think the family will have some of those examined in closer detail, based upon the results."
Collier's wife and parents could not be reached for comment.
Sperry did not say that the Hawks or his former NBA team the Houston Rockets were negligent in clearing Collier to play.
Sperry said he has ordered further tests to determine whether the condition was genetic and might affect Collier's siblings and child. Those tests will take "weeks to a month," he said.
The Hawks left for Oakland on Tuesday, where they will open the NBA season Wednesday night against Golden State. The team will wear black shoulder patches on their uniforms and will leave Collier's uniform in his locker through the season.
Collier, a Springfield, Ohio native, was a high school All-America and played at Indiana University before transferring to Georgia Tech (1998-2000). Collier's father also played basketball at Georgia Tech (1972 to 1976).
? The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Autopsy reveals no drugs or chemicals in late Hawks center's system
By MAE GENTRY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/01/05 Hawks center Jason Collier died last month of sudden cardiac rhythm disturbance caused by an enlarged heart, the state's chief medical examiner said Tuesday.
An autopsy showed that "his heart was definitely enlarged and abnormal," Dr. Kris Sperry said during a news conference at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation headquarters in DeKalb County.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--startclickprintinclude--><!--begintext-->There was no evidence of drugs or chemicals in Collier's system, he said.Collier, who played collegiately at Georgia Tech, died Oct. 15 at the age of 28 after having trouble breathing while sleeping at his home near Lake Lanier.
Sperry said the 7-foot-tall, 260-pound basketball player's heart was 70 percent larger than average.
"For a man his size, 580 grams is the upper limits of normal," Sperry said.
Collier's heart weighed 640 grams, according to the medical examiner. He also had an abnormally structured mitral valve, Sperry said.
Sperry said detecting the heart problem would have been difficult because of Collier's size and the fact he was an athlete.
"Chest x-rays and echo cardiograms are accurate, but there is a limit as to what they can see," Sperry said.
"We have the unfortunate advantage of taking the heart out and weighing it," Sperry said.
However, Collier's medical records showed electrical abnormalities on "at least two" electrocardiograms, Sperry said.
"Looking at them now, and in retrospect in knowing what's going on with his heart, the abnormalities may have been associated with what we found in examining his heart," Sperry said.
"If it were me, I would have wanted more studies done to clarify what those abnormalities meant in light of the fact Jason was an athlete."
Sperry said that he had no evidence that Collier was informed there was anything wrong with his heart. Collier's wife said he had never been told of a reason for concern, according to Sperry.
Sperry did indicate that the family has concerns about the medical tests in 2003 and 2005 that showed abnormalities and "when we get all the findings back I think the family will have some of those examined in closer detail, based upon the results."
Collier's wife and parents could not be reached for comment.
Sperry did not say that the Hawks or his former NBA team the Houston Rockets were negligent in clearing Collier to play.
Sperry said he has ordered further tests to determine whether the condition was genetic and might affect Collier's siblings and child. Those tests will take "weeks to a month," he said.
The Hawks left for Oakland on Tuesday, where they will open the NBA season Wednesday night against Golden State. The team will wear black shoulder patches on their uniforms and will leave Collier's uniform in his locker through the season.
Collier, a Springfield, Ohio native, was a high school All-America and played at Indiana University before transferring to Georgia Tech (1998-2000). Collier's father also played basketball at Georgia Tech (1972 to 1976).
? The Associated Press contributed to this article.
