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01-05-2016 | Case Report

Rare cause of natural death in forensic setting: hemophagocytic syndrome

Authors: B. Ondruschka, J.-O. Habeck, C. Hädrich, J. Dreßler, R. Bayer

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 3/2016

Abstract

We report about the case of a sudden unexpected death of a 25-year-old male suffering from infectious disease. An autopsy was ordered with no final premortem diagnosis. Microscopic and microbiological examination revealed a pneumococcal bronchopneumonia and hemophagocytic lesions in the bone marrow. After integrating clinical and autopsy reports as well as additional postmortem investigations, the cause of death was found to be infectious-triggered hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) with a final cytokine storm. This seems to be the first reported fatal case of a reactive form of HPS associated to Streptococcus pneumoniae to the best of our knowledge. HPS is a dangerous hyperinflammation with highly characteristic, but nonspecific, laboratory findings and symptoms. Autopsies in such cases must be carefully performed and include systematic tissue sampling done by an experienced pathologist.

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Title: Rare cause of natural death in forensic setting: hemophagocytic syndrome
Authors: B. Ondruschka
J.-O. Habeck
C. Hädrich
J. Dreßler
R. Bayer
Publication date: 01-05-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-015-1305-0

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Rare cause of natural death in forensic setting: hemophagocytic syndrome

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