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Esposito M, Montana A, Liberto A, Filetti V, Nunno ND, Amico F, Salerno M, Loreto C, Sessa F. Anaphylactic Death: A New Forensic Workflow for Diagnosis. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9020117. [PMID: 33499408 PMCID: PMC7911323 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9020117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening or fatal clinical emergency characterized by rapid onset, and death may be sudden. The margin of certainty about the diagnosis of anaphylactic death is not well established. The application of immunohistochemical techniques combined with the evaluation of blood tryptase concentrations opened up a new field of investigation into anaphylactic death. The present study investigated eleven autopsy cases of anaphylactic death, carried out between 2005 and 2017, by the Departments of Forensic Pathology of the Universities of Foggia and Catania (Italy). An analysis of the medical records was carried out in all autopsies. Seven autopsies were carried out on males and four on females. Of the eleven cases, one showed a history of asthma, one of food ingestion, two of oral administration of medications, six did not refer any allergy history, and one subject was unknown. All cases (100%) showed pulmonary congestion and edema; 7/11 (64%) of the cases had pharyngeal/laryngeal edema and mucus plugging in the airway; only one case (9%) had a skin reaction that was found during external examination. Serum tryptase concentration was measured in ten cases, and the mean value was 133.5 µg/L ± 177.9. The immunohistochemical examination using an anti-tryptase antibody on samples from the lungs, pharynx/larynx, and skin site of medication injection showed that all cases (100%) were strongly immunopositive for anti-tryptase antibody staining on lung samples; three cases (30%) were strongly immunopositive for anti-tryptase antibody staining on pharyngeal/laryngeal samples; and eight cases (80%) were strongly immunopositive for anti-tryptase antibody staining on skin samples. We conclude that a typical clinical history, blood tryptase level >40 µg/L, and strongly positive anti-tryptase antibody staining in the immunohistochemical investigation may represent reliable parameters in the determination of anaphylactic death with the accuracy needed for forensic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Esposito
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (A.M.); (A.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Angelo Montana
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (A.M.); (A.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Aldo Liberto
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (A.M.); (A.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Veronica Filetti
- Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnology Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (V.F.); (C.L.)
| | - Nunzio Di Nunno
- Department of History, Society and Studies on Humanity, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Francesco Amico
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (A.M.); (A.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Monica Salerno
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (A.M.); (A.L.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-3735357201
| | - Carla Loreto
- Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnology Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (V.F.); (C.L.)
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
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Van Malderen SCH, Daneels D, Kerkhove D, Peeters U, Theuns DAMJ, Droogmans S, Van Camp G, Weytjens C, Biervliet M, Bonduelle M, Van Dooren S, Brugada P. Prolonged Right Ventricular Ejection Delay in Brugada Syndrome Depends on the Type of SCN5A Variant - Electromechanical Coupling Through Tissue Velocity Imaging as a Bridge Between Genotyping and Phenotyping. Circ J 2017; 82:53-61. [PMID: 28781330 DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-16-1279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) and a history of syncope or sustained ventricular arrhythmia have longer right ventricular ejection delays (RVEDs) than asymptomatic BrS patients. Different types ofSCN5Avariants leading to different reductions in sodium current (INa) may have different effects on conduction delay, and consequently on electromechanical coupling (i.e., RVED). Thus, we investigated the genotype-phenotype relationship by measuring RVED to establish whether BrS patients carrying more severeSCN5Avariants leading to premature protein truncation (T) and presumably 100%INareduction have a longer RVED than patients carrying missense variants (M) with different degrees ofINareduction.Methods and Results:There were 34 BrS patients (mean [±SD] age 43.3±12.9 years; 52.9% male) carrying anSCN5Avariant and 66 non-carriers in this cross-sectional study. Patients carrying aSCN5Avariant were divided into T-carriers (n=13) and M-carriers (n=21). Using tissue velocity imaging, RVED and left ventricular ejection delay (LVED) were measured as the time from QRS onset to the onset of the systolic ejection wave at the end of the isovolumetric contraction. T-carriers had longer RVEDs than M-carriers (139.3±15.1 vs. 124.8±11.9 ms, respectively; P=0.008) and non-carriers (127.7±17.3 ms, P=0.027). There were no differences in LVED among groups. CONCLUSIONS Using the simple, non-invasive echocardiographic parameter RVED revealed a more pronounced 'electromechanical' delay in BrS patients carrying T variants ofSCN5A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie C H Van Malderen
- Department of Electrophysiology (Heart Rhythm Management Centre), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel.,Department of Cardiology, AZ Nikolaas.,Department of Electrophysiology, Thorax Centre, Erasmus MC
| | - Dorien Daneels
- Centre for Medical Genetics, Reproduction and Genetics, Reproduction Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Dirk Kerkhove
- Department of Non-invasive Cardiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Uschi Peeters
- Centre for Medical Genetics, Reproduction and Genetics, Reproduction Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | | | - Steven Droogmans
- Department of Non-invasive Cardiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Guy Van Camp
- Department of Non-invasive Cardiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Caroline Weytjens
- Department of Non-invasive Cardiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Martine Biervliet
- Centre for Medical Genetics, Reproduction and Genetics, Reproduction Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Maryse Bonduelle
- Centre for Medical Genetics, Reproduction and Genetics, Reproduction Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Sonia Van Dooren
- Centre for Medical Genetics, Reproduction and Genetics, Reproduction Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
| | - Pedro Brugada
- Department of Electrophysiology (Heart Rhythm Management Centre), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UZ Brussel
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Cecchi R. Diagnosis of anaphylactic death in forensics: Review and future perspectives. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2016; 22:75-81. [PMID: 27591544 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The diagnosis of anaphylaxis in a pre- or post-mortal phase involves the formulation of problems not yet solved by the international scientific literature, due to the complexity of pathogenic factors and pathophysiological processes that characterizes it. For forensic autopsies, further problems of differential diagnosis arise and often leave the forensic pathologist unable to express an opinion of certainty, as a result of lack of case history, circumstantial and autoptical-histopathological data. Nevertheless, in routine cases the postmortem diagnosis of anaphylactic death continues to be based on exclusion and circumstantial evidence. The author, after an extensive review of the literature relating to deaths from anaphylaxis of forensic pathological interest, and a discussion of the microscopical and biochemical findings, proposes a diagnostic protocol for forensic purposes and evaluates the diagnostic perspectives enabled by the newly available analytic techniques and markers. Maybe, the application of omics methodologies could help in the future for anaphylaxis diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Cecchi
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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Anzalone R, Corrao S, Lo Iacono M, Loria T, Corsello T, Cappello F, Di Stefano A, Giannuzzi P, Zummo G, Farina F, La Rocca G. Isolation and characterization of CD276+/HLA-E+ human subendocardial mesenchymal stem cells from chronic heart failure patients: analysis of differentiative potential and immunomodulatory markers expression. Stem Cells Dev 2013; 22:1-17. [PMID: 23013234 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2012.0402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are virtually present in all postnatal organs as well as in perinatal tissues. MSCs can be differentiated toward several mature cytotypes and interestingly hold potentially relevant immunomodulatory features. Myocardial infarction results in severe tissue damage, cardiomyocyte loss, and eventually heart failure. Cellular cardiomyoplasty represents a promising approach for myocardial repair. Clinical trials using MSCs are underway for a number of heart diseases, even if their outcomes are hampered by low long-term improvements and the possible presence of complications related to cellular therapy administration. Therefore, elucidating the presence and role of MSCs that reside in the post-infarct human heart should provide essential alternatives for therapy. In the current article we show a novel method to reproducibly isolate and culture MSCs from the subendocardial zone of human left ventricle from patients undergoing heart transplant for post-infarct chronic heart failure (HSE-MSCs, human subendocardial mesenchymal stem cells). By using both immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we demonstrated that these cells do express key MSCs markers and do express heart-specific transcription factors in their undifferentiated state, while lacking strictly cardiomyocyte-specific proteins. Moreover, these cells do express immunomodulatory molecules that should disclose their further potential in immune modulation processes in the post-infarct microenvironment. Another novel datum of potentially relevant interest is the expression of cardiac myosin heavy chain at nucclear level in HSE-MSCs. Standard MSCs trilineage differentiation experiments were also performed. The present paper adds new data on the basic biological features of heart-resident MSCs that populate the organ following myocardial infarction. The use of heart-derived MSCs to promote in-organ repair or as a cellular source for cardiomyoplasty is a fascinating and challenging task, which deserves further research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Anzalone
- Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche (BIONEC), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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