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Li WX, Sun CH, Li ZD, Lin JY, Shao Y, Chen L, Li LL, Ye X, Shen YW. Anaphylactic deaths: A retrospective study of forensic autopsy cases from 2009 to 2019 in Shanghai, China. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28049. [PMID: 38515709 PMCID: PMC10955291 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Anaphylaxis is a rare but well-known cause of sudden unexpected death, although data from forensic autopsies in anaphylactic deaths are limited. Herein, a retrospective study of a series of allergic deaths from 2009 through 2019 in Shanghai, China, was conducted to investigate the demographic, medical, and forensic pathological characteristics of fatal anaphylaxis to improve medicolegal understanding on anaphylactic death. Sixty-two autopsy cases of anaphylactic death were registered in this study. Males dominated the cases (74.2%) against females (25.8%), with an average age of 38.8 years. Medications (98.4%), particularly antibiotics (72.6%), were the most frequent cause of anaphylaxis, and 44 cases (71.0%) occurred in clinics administered illegally by unlicensed clinicians. The anaphylactic symptoms began within a few minutes to less than 1 h in 53 cases, with dyspnea (56.5%) and sudden shock (46.8%) being the most common clinical signs. Thirty cases (48.4%) of anaphylaxis resulted in death within 1 h. Laryngeal edema and multiple tissue eosinophil infiltration (85.5%) were the most prevalent autopsy findings, followed by pulmonary edema and congestion (24.2%), which were considered to be non-specific but suggestive. The comorbidities were mainly cardiovascular disease (33.9%), pneumonia (8.1%) and asthma (8.1%). Serum IgE were measured in 11 of 62 cases, ranging from 43.3 to 591 IU/ml, severed as a helpful marker. Therefore, we suggested a thorough analysis of allergen exposure, clinical history and autopsy findings is required for the diagnosis of anaphylactic death currently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-xin Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
| | - Cheng-hui Sun
- Criminal Science and Technology Research Institute, Fengxian Branch of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Shanghai, 201499, PR China
| | - Zheng-dong Li
- Shanghai Key laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Academy of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai, 200063, PR China
| | - Jun-yi Lin
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
| | - Yu Shao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
| | - Long Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
| | - Li-liang Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
| | - Xing Ye
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
| | - Yi-wen Shen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
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Heldring N, Kahn L, Zilg B. Fatal anaphylactic shock: A review of postmortem biomarkers and diagnostics. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 323:110814. [PMID: 33951572 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Diagnosing anaphylactic shock postmortem is challenging since differential diagnoses exist and the forensic pathologist often faces subtle findings and lacks relevant information which prevents reaching an opinion of certainty. This review provides an overview of the literature covering research and existing recommendations on the postmortem diagnosis of anaphylactic shock. In order to harmonize the approach and provide guidance for diagnosing deaths from anaphylactic shock in the six forensic centers in Sweden, a guidance protocol aligned with the notion of a holistic view in the approach was devised. Areas in need of further studies include both immunohistological and biochemical investigations to stratify quantitative approaches based on condition and anaphylactic trigger and to lay the ground for and possibly establish alternative matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Heldring
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine, Retzius väg 5, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 1, SE-171 77 Solna, Sweden.
| | - Lydia Kahn
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine, Retzius väg 5, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 1, SE-171 77 Solna, Sweden
| | - Brita Zilg
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine, Retzius väg 5, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 1, SE-171 77 Solna, Sweden
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Schröder AS, Andresen‐Streichert H, Anders S. Swollen Lips After a Night of Partying—An Allergic Reaction to Ecstasy? J Forensic Sci 2019; 64:1281-1282. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Sophie Schröder
- Department of Legal Medicine University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf Butenfeld 34 22529 Hamburg Germany
| | - Hilke Andresen‐Streichert
- Department of Legal Medicine University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf Butenfeld 34 22529 Hamburg Germany
- Institute of Legal Medicine Forensic Toxicology Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Melatenguertel 60‐62 50823 Cologne Germany
| | - Sven Anders
- Department of Legal Medicine University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf Butenfeld 34 22529 Hamburg Germany
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Swerts S, Van Gasse A, Leysen J, Faber M, Sabato V, Bridts CH, Jorens PG, De Clerck LS, Ebo DG. Allergy to illicit drugs and narcotics. Clin Exp Allergy 2014; 44:307-18. [DOI: 10.1111/cea.12177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Revised: 05/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Swerts
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - A. Van Gasse
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - J. Leysen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - M. Faber
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - V. Sabato
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - C. H. Bridts
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - P. G. Jorens
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Clinical Pharmacology/Toxicology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - L. S. De Clerck
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - D. G. Ebo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology; University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerpen Belgium
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