White probably suffered from a condition that limited the amount of air his lungs could hold and likely caused a "fatal cardiac arrhythmia," says Dr. Mike Sullivan, the medical examiner for Mecklenburg County and a forensic pathologist.
The autopsy released by Sullivan's office also said sleep apnea may have contributed to White's death.
The autopsy is only a preliminary report and a decision on the final cause of death may take three months, Sullivan's office said.
Former NFL great Reggie White died Sunday just seven days after his 43rd birthday. (AP file photo)
White died on Sunday, just seven days after his 43rd birthday. He suffered from sarcoidosis – a respiratory ailment that disrupted his sleep – for several years according to family spokesman Keith Johnson.
The American Lung Association defined sarcoidosis on its website as a disease characterized by the presence of small areas of inflamed cells that can attack any organ of the body, but is most often found in the lungs.
The disease is most commonly found in blacks and white northern Europeans, but the cause is still unknown.
Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing repeatedly – in some cases, hundreds of times – during their sleep.
White was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and an ordained minister who made the Pro Bowl a record 13 times.
He recorded 124 sacks while with the Eagles, including 21 in only 12 games in 1987.
White left Philadelphia to sign as a free agent with Green Bay in 1993 for $17 million over four years. He played a pivotal role in the Packers 1997 Super Bowl victory.
During the run-up to the championship, White led a unit that gave up only 210 points in the regular season while setting an NFL record by allowing only 19 touchdowns in a 16-game season.
He retired in 1999 but returned with the Carolina Panthers in 2000 before calling it quits for good. With 198 sacks, White held the all-time mark before Bruce Smith broke it in 2003, finishing with 200.
"Reggie White was a gentle warrior who will be remembered as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Equally as impressive as his achievements on the field was the positive impact he made off the field and the way he served as a positive influence on so many young people."
with files from Associated Press
