Sudden unexpected death of a young adult due to subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with polyarteritis nodosa: Clinicopathological appearance and literature review

A 28-year-old male was found dead in his bedroom. There were no anomalies in his birth and medical history, and there was no family history of sudden unexpected death (SUD). Autopsy showed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with basilar top inflammatory pseudoaneurysm rupture accompanied by fibrinoid necrosis in the aneurysm wall. Active and healed arteritides in small- to medium-sized arteries were identified in the brain, heart, and systemic connective tissue, which was consistent with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). Furthermore, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis was observed in the ascending colon. Hepatitis B virus infection and antineutrophil nuclear antibodies were negative. Genetic investigation using whole-exome sequencing showed no mutations among autoinflammatory-related genes, including UBA1, MEFV, and ADA2. SAH due to rupture of a pseudoaneurysm formed by PAN was considered as the cause of death in the present case. Although myocardial ischemia linked to coronary arteritis is a recognized trigger for SUD in PAN, our study showed that rupture of inflammatory pseudoaneurysm in the cerebral artery can also cause SUD in younger subjects with PAN, even if prodromal symptoms are not evident before death.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia combined with left ventricular non-compaction

BACKGROUND

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is an ion channelopathy, caused by mutations in genes coding for calcium-handling proteins. It can coexist with left ventricular non-compaction. We aim to investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of this co-phenotype.

METHODS

Medical records of 24 patients diagnosed with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in two Chinese hospitals between September, 2005, and January, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated their clinical and genetic characteristics, including basic demographic data, electrocardiogram parameters, medications and survival during follow-up, and their gene mutations. We did structural analysis for a novel variant ryanodine receptor 2-E4005V.

RESULTS

The patients included 19 with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia mono-phenotype and 5 catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia-left ventricular non-compaction overlap patients. The median age of onset symptoms was 9.0 (8.0,13.5) years. Most patients (91.7%) had cardiac symptoms, and 50% had a family history of syncope. Overlap patients had lower peak heart rate and threshold heart rate for ventricular tachycardia and ventricular premature beat during the exercise stress test (p < 0.05). Sudden cardiac death risk may be higher in overlap patients during follow-up. Gene sequencing revealed 1 novel ryanodine receptor 2 missense mutation E4005V and 1 mutation previously unreported in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, but no left ventricular non-compaction-causing mutations were observed. In-silico analysis showed the novel mutation E4005V broke down the interaction between two charged residues.

CONCLUSIONS

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia overlapping with left ventricular non-compaction may lead to ventricular premature beat/ventricular tachycardia during exercise stress test at lower threshold heart rate than catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia alone; it may also indicate a worse prognosis and requires strict follow-up. ryanodine receptor 2 mutations disrupted interactions between residues and may interfere the function of ryanodine receptor 2.

Autopsy for Medical Diagnostics: Finding the Cause of Sudden Unexpected Death through Investigation of the Cardiac Conduction System by Serial Sections

Sudden unexpected death (SUD) is a fatal event that occurs in an apparently healthy subject in a way that such an abrupt outcome could have not been predicted. SUD-including sudden intrauterine unexplained death (SIUD), sudden neonatal unexpected death (SNUD), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sudden unexpected death of the young (SUDY), and sudden unexpected death in the adult (SUDA)-occurs as the first manifestation of an unknown underlying disease or within a few hours of the presentation of a disease. SUD is a major unsolved, shocking form of death that occurs frequently and can happen at any time without warning. For each case of SUD, a review of clinical history data and performance of a complete autopsy, particularly focused on the study of the cardiac conduction system, were carried out according to the necropsy protocol devised by the Lino Rossi Research Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. Research cases collected and selected for this study were represented by 75 SUD victims that were subdivided into 15 SIUD, 15 SNUD, 15 SUDY, and 15 SUDA victims. After a routine autopsy and clinical history analysis, death remained unexplained, and hence a diagnosis of SUD was assigned to 75 subjects, which included 45 females (60%) and 30 (40%) males ranging in age from 27 gestational weeks to 76 years. Serial sections of the cardiac conduction system disclosed frequent congenital alterations of the cardiac conduction system in fetuses and infants. An age-related significant difference in distribution among the five age-related groups was detected for the following anomalies of the conduction system: central fibrous body (CFB) islands of conduction tissue, fetal dispersion, resorptive degeneration, Mahaim fiber, CFB cartilaginous meta-hyperplasia, His bundle septation, sino-atrial node (SAN) artery fibromuscular thickening, atrio-ventricular junction hypoplasia, intramural right bundle branch, and SAN hypoplasia. The results are useful for understanding the cause of death for all SUD cases that were unexpected and would have otherwise remained unexplained, so as to motivate medical examiners and pathologists to perform more in-depth studies.

Causes of Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood: Autopsy Findings from a Specialist Centre

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the aetiologies of sudden unexpected death from natural causes in children aged 1-18 years by retrospective examination of autopsy records from a single centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The post-mortem findings from 548 children (1996-2015) were examined. Details were entered into an established research database and categorized according to >400 pre-defined criteria.

RESULTS

There were 265 previously apparently healthy children and 283 with pre-existing, potentially life-limiting, conditions. There were more males than females (M:F 1.4:1), and deaths were more frequent in the winter. Infection was commonest accounting for 43% of all deaths. Non-infectious diseases were identified as cause of death in 28%, and 29% of all deaths were unexplained. There was no significant difference in the proportions of deaths in each category between the previously healthy children and those with pre-existing conditions.

CONCLUSION

Sudden unexpected death is a rare presentation of death in childhood and those with pre-existing conditions may be more at risk. Standardisation of the post-mortem procedure in such cases may result in more ancillary investigations performed as routine and may reduce the number of cases that are 'unexplained'.

Sudden unexpected death due to spontaneous pneumothorax caused by ruptured bilateral pulmonary bullae

Sudden unexpected death due to pneumothoraces caused by spontaneous rupture of bilateral pulmonary bullae is rare. This article reports the case of a 16-year-old girl who experienced this rare phenomenon without any precipitating factors. The patient did not have a history of chest pains or smoking but experienced chest tightness in the early morning and collapsed and died 4 h later. Autopsy identified the cause of death to be bilateral pneumothoraces and massive bilateral pulmonary collapse (atelectasis) due to ruptured apical bullae of the bilateral lungs. No injuries or other significant pathological findings were identified. A low body mass index (16.5) may have been a risk factor for the spontaneous tension pneumothoraces. In some situations, genetic counseling and testing may be helpful in identifying a heritable process associated with spontaneous pneumothoraces.

Sex-dependent expression of prostatic markers and hormone receptors in cystic tumor of the atrioventricular node: A histopathological study of three cases

We pathologically investigated three autopsy cases of cystic tumor of the atrioventricular node (CTAVN) with sudden death. Case 1 was a 36-year-old woman without any clinical history. Case 2 was a 76-year-old man with an implanted pacemaker for complete atrioventricular block. Case 3 was a 45-year-old man with a history of first-degree AV block and sinus bradycardia. Microscopically, all three cases showed the bilayered structure of tumor glands and corpora amylacea in the glandular lumens. Immunohistochemically, the inner cells of the tumor glands were positive for cytokeratin CAM5.2, CEA, EMA, olfactomedin-4 and alpha-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase; the outer cells were positive for p63 and cytokeratin high molecular weight. In Case 1, androgen receptor and estrogen receptor were negative; progesterone receptor was focally positive in both the inner and outer cells. In Case 2, androgen receptor showed intermediate positivity in the inner cells; estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor were positive in the outer cells. Positive expression of both prostate-specific antigen and prostate-specific acid phosphate were found in the inner cells of both male cases. Because CTAVN cells exhibit different degrees of the prostatic phenotype depending on the patient's sex, we believe that CTAVN may originate from urogenital sinus tissue in some cases.

The role of sodium channels in sudden unexpected death in pediatrics

BACKGROUND

Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics (SUDP) is a tragic event, likely caused by the complex interaction of multiple factors. The presence of hippocampal abnormalities in many children with SUDP suggests that epilepsy-related mechanisms may contribute to death, similar to Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy. Because of known associations between the genes SCN1A and SCN5A and sudden death, and shared mechanisms and patterns of expression in genes encoding many voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs), we hypothesized that individuals dying from SUDP have pathogenic variants across the entire family of cardiac arrhythmia- and epilepsy-associated VGSC genes.

METHODS

To address this hypothesis, we evaluated whole-exome sequencing data from infants and children with SUDP for variants in VGSC genes, reviewed the literature for all SUDP-associated variants in VGSCs, applied a novel paralog analysis to all variants, and evaluated all variants according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines.

RESULTS

In our cohort of 73 cases of SUDP, we assessed 11 variants as pathogenic in SCN1A, SCN1B, and SCN10A, genes with long-standing disease associations, and in SCN3A, SCN4A, and SCN9A, VGSC gene paralogs with more recent disease associations. From the literature, we identified 82 VGSC variants in SUDP cases. Pathogenic variants clustered at conserved amino acid sites intolerant to variation across the VGSC genes, which is unlikely to occur in the general population (p < .0001). For 54% of variants previously reported in literature, we identified conflicting evidence regarding pathogenicity when applying ACMG criteria and modern population data.

CONCLUSION

We report variants in several VGSC genes in cases with SUDP, involving both arrhythmia- and epilepsy-associated genes. Accurate variant assessment as well as future studies are essential for an improved understanding of the contribution of sodium channel-related variants to SUDP.

Possible Use of Blood Tryptophan Metabolites as Biomarkers for Coronary Heart Disease in Sudden Unexpected Death

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the major cause of death in sudden unexpected death (SUD) cases. Tryptophan (TRP) and its metabolites are correlated with the CHD patient but less studies in the SUD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of TRP and its metabolites with the CHD in the SUD cases. Blood samples and heart tissues were collected from CHD subjects (n = 31) and the control group (n = 72). Levels of kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYA), xanthurenic acid (XAN), 3-hydroxyanthranillic acid (HAA), quinolinic acid (QA), picolinic acid (PA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA) were determined by HPLC-DAD. A severity of heart occlusion was categorized into four groups, and the relationship was measured with the TRP metabolites. The HIAA and The KYN levels significantly differed (p < 0.01) between the CHD group and the control group. Lower levels of QA/XAN, PA/KA, HAA/XAN, KYN/XAN and KYN/TRP were found in the CHD group. However, PA/HAA, PA/HIAA, PA/KYN and XAN/KA values in the CHD group were higher than the control group (p < 0.05). This study revealed that the values of PA/KA and PA/HAA provided better choices for a CHD biomarker in postmortem bodies.

Years of Life and Productivity Loss Because of Adult Sudden Unexpected Death in the United States

BACKGROUND

Few studies have evaluated the years of life lost (YLL) and productivity loss due to sudden unexpected death (SUD). The burden of SUD on society is undetermined because of lack of population-based studies and comprehensive adjudication methods.

OBJECTIVE

We estimated YLL and productivity loss from SUD in working-age adults and compared it with the leading causes of death in the United States.

METHODS

We screened all out of hospital deaths among people aged 20-64 in Wake County, NC from 2013 to 2015 to adjudicate SUDs. We extrapolated Wake County incidence to estimate the age-standardized and sex-standardized rate of SUD in the United States. YLL was calculated based on the remaining life expectancy of the victims. Incorporating market and housekeeping value estimated the present value of lifetime productivity loss because of SUD.

RESULTS

SUD incidence rates in the US adults aged 20-64 were 49.3 (95% confidence interval, 41.2-58.3) and 21.7 (95% confidence interval, 16.5-27.8) per 100,000 among men and women, respectively. SUD resulted in the loss of 2 million years of life, accounting for 10.0% of YLL from all causes of death. Among natural causes of death, YLL from SUD was only lower than that from all cancers combined and heart disease. Lifetime productivity loss because of SUD was ~$51 billion, exceeding productivity loss from any individual cancer.

CONCLUSION

SUD is an important source of YLL and productivity loss among adults aged 20-64. Such a high burden on society justifies prioritizing health policies and interventions toward preventing SUD.

SCN1A variants associated with sudden infant death syndrome

We identified SCN1A variants in 2 infants who died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) with hippocampal abnormalities from an exome sequencing study of 10 cases of SIDS but no history of seizures. One harbored SCN1A G682V, and the other had 2 SCN1A variants in cis: L1296M and E1308D, a variant previously associated with epilepsy. Functional evaluation in a heterologous expression system demonstrated partial loss of function for both G682V and the compound variant L1296M/E1308D. Our cases represent a novel association between SCN1A and SIDS, extending the SCN1A spectrum from epilepsy to SIDS. Our findings provide insights into SIDS and support genetic evaluation focused on epilepsy genes in SIDS.

Gastrointestinal causes of sudden unexpected death: A review

Gastrointestinal conditions are a less common cause of sudden unexpected death when compared to other conditions such as cardiovascular conditions, but they are equally important. Various congenital and acquired gastrointestinal conditions that have resulted in sudden unexpected death are discussed. The possible lethal mechanisms behind each condition, along with any associated risk factors or secondary diseases, have been described. Through this article, we aim to highlight the need for physicians to prevent death in such conditions by ensuring that subclinical cases are diagnosed correctly before it is too late and by providing timely and efficacious treatment to the patient concerned. In addition, this review would certainly benefit the forensic pathologist while dealing with cases of sudden unexpected death due to gastrointestinal causes. This article is a review of the major gastrointestinal causes of sudden unexpected death. In addition, related fatal cases encountered occasionally in forensic autopsy practice are also included. There are several unusual and rare causes of life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding that may lead to sudden unexpected death to cover all the entities in detail. Nevertheless, this article is a general guide to the topic of gastrointestinal causes of sudden unexpected death.

Childhood neoplasms presenting at autopsy: A 20-year experience

OBJECTIVE

The aims of the review are to establish the number of undiagnosed neoplasms presenting at autopsy in a single centre and to determine the incidence and most common causes of sudden unexpected death due to neoplasia in infancy and childhood (SUDNIC).

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study of paediatric autopsies performed on behalf of Her Majesty's Coroner over a 20-year period (1996-2015; n = 2,432). Neoplasms first diagnosed at autopsy were identified from an established database and cases meeting the criteria for sudden unexpected death were further categorised.

RESULTS

Thirteen previously undiagnosed neoplasms were identified, including five haematological malignancies, two medulloblastomas, two neuroblastomas, two cardiac tumours and two malignancies of renal origin. Eight cases met the criteria for SUDNIC (0.33% of autopsies), the commonest group of which were haematological malignancies (n = 3).

CONCLUSIONS

Neoplasms presenting as unexpected death in infancy and childhood and diagnosed at autopsy are rare. The findings suggest that haematological malignancies are the commonest cause of SUDNIC and highlight the importance of specialist autopsy in cases of sudden unexpected death.

Sudden Unexpected Deaths Due to Intracranial Meningioma: Presentation of Six Fatal Cases, Review of the Literature, and A Discussion of the Mechanisms of Death

Deaths due to meningiomas are routinely diagnosed in clinical practice because this neoplasm tends to present with the typical progression of neurological deficits. On the other hand, sudden unexpected deaths due to meningiomas are rarely described in the literature. The study presents six fatal cases of previously undiagnosed intracranial meningiomas from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office from 1998 to 2014. The most common explanation of the mechanism of sudden death due to intracranial neoplasms is a rapid increase in intracranial pressure produced by the mass effect of the neoplasm. Other mechanisms of death include acute intracranial and intratumoral hemorrhage, and benign neoplasms that grow in the vicinity of vital centers altering neural discharge in autonomic pathways leading to cardiac suppression or lethal arrhythmia. Forensic pathologists must keep in mind that sudden unexpected death caused by intracranial meningiomas, although extremely rare, may be encountered in the forensic setting.

An Autopsy Case of Sudden Unexpected Death of a Young Adult in a Hot Bath: Molecular Analysis Using Next-Generation DNA Sequencing

We report a case of sudden unexpected death of a young woman who was found in a bathtub of hot water. The autopsy concluded that all possible causes of sudden loss of consciousness, except cardiac origin, could be excluded. However, the heart did not show any obvious pathological changes. We used next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) to examine 73 genes and detected 3 rare, potentially pathogenic variants with minor allele frequencies ⩽1.0%. The pathogenicity of these variants was evaluated using 8 in silico predictive algorithms, and SCN5A_p.Gly289Ser, CACNB2_p.Ser502Leu, and MYH11_p.Lys1573Glu were detected as possible pathogenic variants. Inherited heart disease is a likely cause of sudden unexpected deaths of young people in hot baths, even before the clinical manifestation of the disease. In the future, molecular analysis by NGS may help to predict young to early middle-aged people who could be at risk of sudden arrhythmogenic fatality in hot baths.

Fatal Acute Hemorrhagic Bowel Infarction Caused by Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis

Acute mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is a rare, but life-threatening medical phenomenon. MVT is normally characterized by insidious onset, with nonspecific signs and symptoms. A high index of clinical suspicion is required for diagnosis, and emergency surgery is necessary to optimize the chances of patient survival, especially in the people aged more than 70 years. Surprisingly, based on my review of the literature, no fatal acute MVT case has been reported in the forensic literature. All reported such cases have been documented in medical literature, and most of them have been associated with underlying risk factors for venous thrombosis, such as hypercoagulable state, certain cancers, and stasis of the blood flow. Here, I report the case of a sudden unexpected death due to extensive intestinal ischemia and infarction with massive abdominal hemorrhage caused by acute MVT in a 72-year-old man without known underlying risk factors.

Beyond the Electrocardiogram: Mutations in Cardiac Ion Channel Genes Underlie Nonarrhythmic Phenotypes

Cardiac ion channelopathies are an important cause of sudden death in the young and include long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, and short QT syndrome. Genes that encode ion channels have been implicated in all of these conditions, leading to the widespread implementation of genetic testing for suspected channelopathies. Over the past half-century, researchers have also identified systemic pathologies that extend beyond the arrhythmic phenotype in patients with ion channel gene mutations, including deafness, epilepsy, cardiomyopathy, periodic paralysis, and congenital heart disease. A coexisting phenotype, such as cardiomyopathy, can influence evaluation and management. However, prior to recent molecular advances, our understanding and recognition of these overlapping phenotypes were poor. This review highlights the systemic and structural heart manifestations of the cardiac ion channelopathies, including their phenotypic spectrum and molecular basis.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

Since the sentinel description of exercise-triggered ventricular arrhythmias in 21 children, our recognition and understanding of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia has improved substantially. A variety of treatments are now available, but reaching a diagnosis before cardiac arrest remains a challenge. Most cases are related to variants in the gene encoding for ryanodine receptor-2 (RyR2), which mediates calcium-induced calcium release. Up to half of cases remain genetically elusive. The condition is presently incurable, but one basic intervention, the universal administration of β-blockers, has improved survival. In the past, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) were frequently implanted, especially in those with a history of cardiac arrest. Treatment limitations include under-dosing and poor compliance with β-blockers, and potentially lethal ICD-related electrical storm. Newer therapies include flecainide and sympathetic ganglionectomy. Limited data have suggested that genotype may predict phenotype in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, including a higher risk of life-threatening cardiac events in subjects with variants in the C-terminus of ryanodine receptor-2 (RyR2). At present, international efforts are underway to better understand this condition through large prospective registries. The recent publication of gene therapy in an animal model of the recessive form of the disease highlights the importance of improving our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of the disease.

Child homicide or natural death? A case report of unexpected death of unusual asymptomatic acute laryngotracheobronchitis

Cases involving the unexpected deaths of children are always a concern for the police and medical examiners alike. In particular, unexpected deaths due to asphyxia without obvious injuries sometimes make decisions regarding the manner of death more difficult. In the present case, a 2-year-old boy was found dead at home, and his mother was initially believed to have killed him. A complete autopsy and forensic investigation were performed, and no injuries were found on the body; however, marked laryngeal edema was observed. Histology showed extensive inflammatory infiltration of the mucosa and submucosa of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. The cause of death was given as respiratory failure due to acute laryngotracheobronchitis; thus, the manner of death was natural. This case helps to remind the forensic community to keep an open mind and consider a broad differential diagnosis when approaching a case rather than jumping to a conclusion based solely on a preliminary investigation.

Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombosis Secondary to Metastatic Uterine Cancer: A Rare Cause of Sudden Unexpected Death

Pulmonary tumor thromboembolus (PTTE) secondary to uterine cancer is a rare cause of sudden unexpected deaths in the elderly population. Additionally, tumor extension to the inferior vena cava (IVC) makes it rarer. No such cases have been previously reported in the forensic literature. We report this phenomenon in a previously healthy 70-year-old woman with no other known risk factors for the development of deep vein thrombosis. The deceased was found dead while watching television with her relatives. Autopsy examination revealed that her death was attributed to a saddle embolus lodged in the main pulmonary arteries. A uterine tumor was discovered, and microscopic examination revealed low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with angiolymphatic invasion. The tumor cells were also found in the embolus and the remnant thrombosis attached to the inner wall of the IVC. This case demonstrates a sudden unexpected death caused by acute PTTE following seeding of uterine cancer into the IVC and raises awareness of such events.

Fibrosis, Connexin-43, and Conduction Abnormalities in the Brugada Syndrome

BACKGROUND

The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is acknowledged to be responsible for arrhythmogenesis in Brugada syndrome (BrS), but the pathophysiology remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the substrate underlying BrS at post-mortem and in vivo, and the role for open thoracotomy ablation.

METHODS

Six whole hearts from male post-mortem cases of unexplained sudden death (mean age 23.2 years) with negative specialist cardiac autopsy and familial BrS were used and matched to 6 homograft control hearts by sex and age (within 3 years) by random risk set sampling. Cardiac autopsy sections from cases and control hearts were stained with picrosirius red for collagen. The RVOT was evaluated in detail, including immunofluorescent stain for connexin-43 (Cx43). Collagen and Cx43 were quantified digitally and compared. An in vivo study was undertaken on 6 consecutive BrS patients (mean age 39.8 years, all men) during epicardial RVOT ablation for arrhythmia via thoracotomy. Abnormal late and fractionated potentials indicative of slowed conduction were identified, and biopsies were taken before ablation.

RESULTS

Collagen was increased in BrS autopsy cases compared with control hearts (odds ratio [OR]: 1.42; p = 0.026). Fibrosis was greatest in the RVOT (OR: 1.98; p = 0.003) and the epicardium (OR: 2.00; p = 0.001). The Cx43 signal was reduced in BrS RVOT (OR: 0.59; p = 0.001). Autopsy and in vivo RVOT samples identified epicardial and interstitial fibrosis. This was collocated with abnormal potentials in vivo that, when ablated, abolished the type 1 Brugada electrocardiogram without ventricular arrhythmia over 24.6 ± 9.7 months.

CONCLUSIONS

BrS is associated with epicardial surface and interstitial fibrosis and reduced gap junction expression in the RVOT. This collocates to abnormal potentials, and their ablation abolishes the BrS phenotype and life-threatening arrhythmias. BrS is also associated with increased collagen throughout the heart. Abnormal myocardial structure and conduction are therefore responsible for BrS.

Sudden unexpected death due to strangulated inguinal hernia

Sudden unwitnessed, unexpected deaths when the bodies are found in public places require a complete and meticulous medicolegal autopsy to ascertain the cause and manner of death to avoid further unnecessary investigations by the legal authorities. Such deaths attributed to gastrointestinal causes at autopsy are relatively uncommon. We report a case of sudden unexpected death due to strangulated inguinal hernia in a 60-year-old man. The body was discovered in a public area near a place of worship. The present case illustrates a potentially preventable sudden unexpected death due to a surgically correctable gastrointestinal condition. In the present case, the individual feared being hospitalised for treatment of his scrotal swelling with potential surgery and the eventual loss of daily income. In our opinion, such apprehensions may have delayed the potentially life-saving hospital surgical intervention in the individual.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in children: analysis of therapeutic strategies and outcomes from an international multicenter registry

BACKGROUND

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is an uncommon, potentially lethal, ion channelopathy. Standard therapies have high failure rates and little is known about treatment in children. Newer options such as flecainide and left cardiac sympathetic denervation are not well validated. We sought to define treatment outcomes in children with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society multicenter, retrospective cohort study of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia patients diagnosed before 19 years of age. The cohort included 226 patients, including 170 probands and 56 relatives. Symptomatic presentation was reported in 176 (78%). Symptom onset occurred at 10.8 (interquartile range, 6.8-13.2) years with a delay to diagnosis of 0.5 (0-2.6) years. Syncope (P<0.001), cardiac arrest (P<0.001), and treatment failure (P=0.008) occurred more often in probands. β-Blockers were prescribed in 205 of 211 patients (97%) on medication, and 25% experienced at least 1 treatment failure event. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators were placed in 121 (54%) and was associated with electrical storm in 22 (18%). Flecainide was used in 24% and left cardiac sympathetic denervation in 8%. Six deaths (3%) occurred during a cumulative follow-up of 788 patient-years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a malignant phenotype and lengthy delay to diagnosis in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Probands were typically severely affected. β-Blockers were almost universally initiated; however, treatment failure, noncompliance and subtherapeutic dosing were often reported. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators were common despite numerous device-related complications. Treatment failure was rare in the quarter of patients on flecainide. Left cardiac sympathetic denervation was not uncommon although the indication was variable.

Minimal change multiple system atrophy: an aggressive variant?

BACKGROUND

Glial cytoplasmic inclusions containing α-synuclein are the pathological hallmark of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Minimal change (MC-MSA) is an unusual MSA subtype with neuronal loss largely restricted to the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry on selected brain regions and semiquantitative assessment were performed on six MC-MSA and eight MSA control cases.

RESULTS

More neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions were seen in the caudate and substantia nigra in MC-MSA than in MSA controls (P = 0.002), without any statistical difference in glial cytoplasmic inclusion load in any region. Severe glial cytoplasmic inclusion load was found in the ventrolateral medulla (P = 1.0) and nucleus raphe obscurus (P = 0.4) in both groups. When compared with MSA controls, the three MC-MSA cases who had died of sudden unexpected death had an earlier age of onset (mean: 38 vs. 57.6 y, P = 0.02), a numerically shorter disease duration (mean: 5.3 vs. 8 y, P = 0.2) and a more rapid clinical progression with most of the clinical milestones reached within 3 y of presentation, suggesting an aggressive variant of MSA. Another three MC-MSA cases, who had died of unrelated concurrent diseases, had an age of onset (mean: 57.7 y) and temporal course similar to controls, had less severe neuronal loss and gliosis in the medial and dorsolateral substantia nigra subregions (P < 0.05) than in MSA controls, and could be considered as a unique group with interrupted pathological progression. Significant respiratory dysfunction and early orthostatic hypotension were observed in all MC-MSA cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings could suggest that α-synuclein-associated oligodendroglial pathology may lead to neuronal dysfunction sufficient to cause clinical symptoms before overt neuronal loss in MSA. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

An autopsy case of infantile-onset vanishing white matter disease related to an EIF2B2 mutation (V85E) in a hemizygous region

We report a rare autopsy case of early infantile-onset vanishing white matter disease, with a submicroscopic deletion of 14q24.3, which included EIF2B2 and a missense mutation of EIF2B2 (V85E) of the remaining allele. The patient was a 4-year-old boy, who was found to have suddenly died during sleep. Physical and mental development began to deteriorate after convulsions at 10 month of age, and did not recover to baseline measurements. At autopsy, the brain showed a marked decrease in volume of white matter, with no typical cystic rarefaction. Histopathologically, the affected white matter showed diffuse loss of myelin fibers, meager astrogliosis with dysmorphic astrocytes, and loss of oligodendrocytes. Proliferative and apoptotic markers were negative for oligodendrocytes in the severely affected area. These findings may be related to the severity of the disease, and might be a feature of the EIF2B2 mutation pattern of the patient. Additionally, unusual fatty infiltration of both ventricles of the heart was found. These findings were suspected as early pathology of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy due to characteristic gene mutation in the present case. In the present case, the defect EIF2B2 caused by hemizygosity may be related to early onset of the disease and the unusual pathological changes with vulnerability of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, as well as cardiac abnormalities and sudden unexpected death.

Sudden unexpected nocturnal death in Chiari type 1 malformation and potential role of opioid analgesics

Background:

Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) is a common congenital anomaly of the craniocervical junction. CM1 is reported to run a usually benign course and patients typically experience no symptoms or chronic, slowly progressive symptoms. However, recent reports indicate that a subset of patients with CM1 may present with acute deterioration and sudden unexpected death (SUD). We report a case of SUD during sleep in a young man with CM1, which we believe was related to the administration of common and therapeutic doses of narcotic analgesics for the management of pain. We will clarify the pathophysiology of acute deterioration and SUD in CM1 and the possibility that the adverse effects of opiate analgesics likely were the leading cause of death in our patient.

Case Description:

In this review, we present a 29-year-old male with worsening headache secondary to previously diagnosed CM1. The patient died suddenly and unexpectedly after administration of common and therapeutic doses of narcotic analgesics for the management of pain.

Conclusion:

The mechanism(s) of acute neurological deterioration and sudden death in patients with CM1 remains poorly understood. We believe the rapid fatal deterioration in our patient following administration of opioids suggests that this category of medication may cause sudden unexpected “neurogenic” cardiac death in CM1 patients by inducing sleep-related breathing difficulties and associated hypercapnia. Hypercapnia by further increasing intracranial pressure can result in a sudden pressure-induced decompensation of the cardiopulmonary control centers in the brain stem and cause instantaneous cardiorespiratory arrest.

Sudden unexpected death due to Graves' disease during physical altercation

We report a case of a 30-year-old woman who suddenly collapsed after having a physical altercation with her husband. Despite immediate resuscitation, she died on arrival at the hospital. The victim's parents requested an autopsy because they believed that their daughter was killed by her husband. Postmortem examination revealed that the victim had a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland and cardiomegaly with left ventricular hypertrophy. There was no evidence of significant trauma on the body. Further postmortem thyroid function tests and review of her medical history indicated that her death was due to Graves' disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported of sudden death due to cardiac arrhythmia from Graves' disease induced by physical and emotional stress associated with the criminal activity of another person. The autopsy findings are described. In addition, the literature is reviewed and the significance of postmortem evaluation of thyroid hormones in the cases of sudden death is discussed.

Differences between the pattern of developmental abnormalities in autism associated with duplications 15q11.2-q13 and idiopathic autism

The purposes of this study were to identify differences in patterns of developmental abnormalities between the brains of individuals with autism of unknown etiology and those of individuals with duplications of chromosome 15q11.2-q13 (dup[15]) and autism and to identify alterations that may contribute to seizures and sudden death in the latter. Brains of 9 subjects with dup(15), 10 with idiopathic autism, and 7 controls were examined. In the dup(15) cohort, 7 subjects (78%) had autism, 7 (78%) had seizures, and 6 (67%) had experienced sudden unexplained death. Subjects with dup(15) autism were microcephalic, with mean brain weights 300 g less (1,177 g) than those of subjects with idiopathic autism (1,477 g; p<0.001). Heterotopias in the alveus, CA4, and dentate gyrus and dysplasia in the dentate gyrus were detected in 89% of dup(15) autism cases but in only 10% of idiopathic autism cases (p < 0.001). By contrast, cerebral cortex dysplasia was detected in 50% of subjects with idiopathic autism and in no dup(15) autism cases (p<0.04). The different spectrum and higher prevalence of developmental neuropathologic findings in the dup(15) cohort than in cases with idiopathic autism may contribute to the high risk of early onset of seizures and sudden death.

Changes in surface-charge density of blood cells after sudden unexpected death

The objective of the investigation was evaluation of postmortem changes of electric charge of human erythrocyte and thrombocyte membranes after sudden unexpected death. The surface charge density values were determined on the basis of the electrophoretic mobility measurements of the cells carried out at various pHs of electrolyte solution. The interactions between both erythrocyte and thrombocyte membranes and electrolyte ions were studied. Values of parameters characterizing the membrane--that is, the total surface concentrations of both acidic and basic groups and their association constants with solution ions--were calculated on the basis of a four-equilibria mathematical model. The model was validated by comparison of these values to experimental data. We established that examined electric properties of the cell membranes are affected by sudden unexpected death. Postmortem processes occurring in the cell membranes can lead to disorders of existing equilibria, which in turn result in changes in values of all the above-mentioned parameters.

Sudden unexpected death associated with ileocecal duplication cyst and clinical review

Duplications of the alimentary tract are very rare. A one-month-old female presented with symptoms of anorexia, vomiting and continuous watery diarrhea. The plain abdominal radiograph showed thickened intestinal wall and signs of small bowel obstruction. The fevers, vomiting, and continuous wartery diarrhea persisted despite antibiotics, and worsened. The patient failed to respond to medical managements, 27 hours after admission, the patient died due to multiple organ failures. The autopsy was performed, small bowel obstruction due to an ileocecal duplication cyst (3 × 3 cm) was recognized. The ileocecal duplication cyst was attached to the ileum which was changed edematous and necrotic. This potential diagnosis should be borne in mind for a patient who complains of abdominal symptoms with an unknown cause, and duplication cyst should be recognized as a fatal cause in infant.

The relation between child death and child maltreatment

The death of a child is a sentinel event in a community, and a defining marker of a society's policies of safety and health. Child death as a result of abuse and neglect is a tragic outcome that occurs in all nations of the world. The true incidence of fatal child abuse and neglect is unknown. The most accurate incidence data of such deaths have been obtained from countries where multi-agency death review teams analyse the causes of child fatalities, as is done in the United States and Australia.

Sudden unexpected death in infants under 3 months of age and vaccination status- -a case-control study

AIMS

To determine whether DTPP+Hib vaccination (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis +/- haemophilus) increased the risk of sudden unexpected death (SUD) in children under 3 months of age.

METHODS

We conducted a multicentre case-control study in the 28 French 'SIDS Centers'. Case selection was based on death labelled sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) of an infant aged between 30 and 90 days. Three living controls were selected, matched for sex, gestational age and born immediately after the victim in the same maternity unit.

RESULTS

We identified 114 cases of SUD aged between 30 and 90 days and 341 live controls matched for age and sex and born in the same maternity unit as the case. DTPP+/-Hib immunization did not increase the risk of SUD (OR 1.08) (95% CI 0.49, 2.36) in children under 3 months of age when adjusted for sleeping position, illness in the week before death, maternal tobacco consumption, birth weight, type of mattress, breastfeeding and sex. However, low birth-weight (6.53 [2.29, 18.9]), multiple birth (5.1 [1.76, 15.13]), no breastfeeding (1.77 [1.1, 2.85]), prone sleeping position (9.8 [5, 8, 18, 9]), soft mattress (3.26 [1.69, 6.29]), recent illness (3.44 [1.84, 6.41]) and parental smoking (1.74 [1.2, 2.96]) were confirmed as risk factors in early SIDS.

CONCLUSIONS

DTPP+/-Hib immunization is not a risk factor for early SUD. In this population, we found the same risk factors as described for SIDS.